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to 


UNITED   STATES  CONSULAR  REPORTS. 


L^BOR 


IN 


AMERICA,  ASIA,  AFRICA,  AUSTRALASIA,  AND  POLYNESIA. 


EEPORTS  FROM  CONSULS   OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  IN  THE  SEVERAL 

COUNTRIES    OF    AMERICA,    ASIA,    AFRICA,    AUSTRALASIA,    AND 

POLYNESIA,  ON  THE  STATE  OF  LABOR  IN  THEIR  SEVERAL 

DISTRICTS,  IN  RESPONSE  TO  A  CIRCULAR  FROM 

THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRlNTINa   OFFICE. 
1886. 


5140G 


CONTENTS 


OONTINEIVT   OF   ARIERICA. 

Page. 

North  America: 

Dominion  of  Canada 1-115 

Mexico 116-160 

Central  America : 

British  Honduras 161-168 

South  America : 

United  States  of  Colombia 169-183 

Venezuela 183-201 

British  Guiana 202-210 

Brazil 210-226 

Falkland  Islands 227,228 

Peru 228-237 

Ecuador 237-243 

West  India  Islands : 

British  West  Indies 244-250 

Spanish  West  Indies 251-262 

COIVTIIVEIVT    OF    ASIA. 

Turkey  in  Asia : 

Asia  Minor 263-272 

Syria 273-281 

Palestine 281-292 

Persia 293-304 

Ceylon 305-313 

The  Philippine  Islands 313-316 

Japan 317-342 

China 342-348 

COJVTIIVEIVT   OF   AFRICA. 

Morocco 349-351 

Cape  Colony 352-357 

Senegal , 357-361 

Sierra  Leone 361-364 

Madeira 364-366 

AUSTRALASIA. 

Victoria , 367-397 

West  Australia 398 

New  Zealand 399-411 

POI^VIVESIA. 

Hawaiian  Islands 412-414 

Samoa 415,416 

III 


CONTINENT  OF  AMERICA. 


[NORTH  AMERICA. 


domi:n^ioi^  of  cais^ada. 


PROVINCE  OF  ONTARIO. 
AMHERSTBURG. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  TURNER. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  per  weelc  of  sixty  hours  in  Jvilierstiurg. 


Occupations. 

Average. 

Occupations. 

Average. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

$21  00  i 

9  00 
18  00  I 

7  50 
21  00 

7  50 
15  00 
12  00 

7  50 
18  00 

9  00 
10  00 

Other  trades— Continued. 

$9  00 

*500  00 

t300  00 

6  00 

12  00 

10  00 

Slaters 

10  00 

15  00 

6  00 

Plumbers 

Drivers 

Urayinen  and  teamsters 

3  00 

5  00 

5  00 

6  00 

OTHER  TRADES. 

9  00 

15  00 

Bakers .                                   7  nn 

5  00 

Blacksmiths 

9  00 

*  Males  per  year.  t  Females  peryear. 

The  prices  paid  for  the  necessaries  of  life. 


Articles. 


Flour per  pound. 

Tea do... 

Sugar do . . . 

Rice do . . . 

Butter do. .. 

Sirup per  gallon. 

Prunes per  pound. 

Soap do . . . 

Vinegar per  gallon. 

Crackers per  pound. 

92  A— 2  LAB 1 


Cost. 


$0  03 
40 

08 
05 
20 
75 
08 
05 
25 
08 


Articles. 


Salt per  pound . . 

Potatoes per  bushel. . 

Corn-meal per  pound.. 

Pork do 

Oatmeal do 

Cottee do 

Clothing  outfits 

Rent  (average  for  laboring  classes)  per 
mouth 


Cost. 


02 
50 
03 
10 
03 
25 
15  00 

4  00 


2 


LABOR  IN  NOETH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


The  habits  of  the  working  class,  as  a  general  thing,  are  good  and  trust- 
worthy and  saving,  and  the  causes  which  affect  their  habits  good. 

The  feeling  between  the  employe  and  the  employer,  as  a  general  rule, 
is  good  and  prosperous. 

There  are  no  organized  conditions  of  labor  in  this  district. 

In  regard  to  strikers  in  this  district,  there  are  none. 

The  working  people  j)urchase  where  they  choose,  paid  weekly  in 
Canada  funds. 

There  are  no  co-operative  societies  in  this  district. 

As  to  the  general  condition  of  the  working  people,  their  homes  are 
comfortable,  food  good,  clothes  good  ;  their  chances  for  bettering  their 
condition  good,  if  they  would  take  the  advantages  offered. 

As  a  general  rule,  no  provisions  are  made  for  the  working  people  in 
case  of  accident.  The  general  relations  prevailing  between  the  em- 
ployer and  employed  are  good. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

TVages  2}o,id  per  week  of  seventy-two  hours  in  factories  or  mills. 


Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

Occupations. 

Average 
■wages. 

Clerks                            

$12  00 

$9  00 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  tveek  in  foundries,  machine-sJiops,  and  iron  works  in  this  district. 


Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

$12  00 

Workmen 

$9  OO 

YI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  raihvay  employes  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  lineme7i,  railroad  laborers,  4'c.)  in  Amherstburg. 


Occupations. 


Station-master 

Conductors 

Engineers 

Brakeman 


Average 
wages. 


$75  00 
75  00 
no  00 
50  00 


Occupations. 


Fireman 

Telegraph  operators 
Clerks 


Average 


$50  00 
45  00 

50  oa 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


YIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  eight  months  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  between,  ocean, 
coast,  and  river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam — in  the  Amhersthurg  district. 


Occnpations. 


Average 
wages. 


Occupations. 


STEAM  CRAFTS.  I 

Captain $1,000  00 

Mate I      720  00 

Engineer  .   840  00 

Second  mate 600  00 

Seaman I      240  00 


Captain. 
Mate  ... 
Seaman. 


wages. 


$900  00 
800  (10 
300  00 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  stores,  to  males  and  females,  in  Amhersthurg. 


Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

Occnpations. 

Average 
wages. 

$8  00 

Clerks,  female 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  this  district. 


Occnpations. 


Clerk 

Waiters 

Chambermaids 

Porter 

Cook 


Average 
wages. 


Occupations. 


PRIVATE  HOUSES. 


$12  00      Male... 
2  50    I  Female  . 

2  00  I 

3  00 


Average 
wages. 


$3  00 
2  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Amherstburg  dis- 
trict, tvith  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

$30  00 

Household  servants,  female,  per  week  . 

$3  00 

XII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices — exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborer!) — in  Amherstburg,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

$1,  500 

1,000 

600 

$800 

500 

4  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  shoicing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  tfc.)  in  Amherstburg. 

Occupations.  ^TLT^      °'^Jif* 

*^  Tvacfis.      wages. 


Printers $8  00  $9  00 

Compositors 8  00  9  00 

Pressmen 8  00  9  00 

Proof-readers 8  00  9  00 

JOSIAH  TURNEK, 

United  States  Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Amherstburg,  April  23,  1884. 


BELLEVILLE. 

REPORT  BT  CONSUL  PRINOH. 

As  a  rule,  labor  in  this  district  is  less  than  it  is  in  the  United  States  for 
same  class,  and  as  far  as  I  am  able  to  procure  information  prices  are 
rather  better  than  in  1878.  I  can  give  no  reason  for  this,  only  that  in 
1878  the  depression  in  business  then  prevailing  no  doubt  affected  the 
price  of  labor  in  Canada. 

As  a  rule,  also,  the  service  is  of  a  poorer  nature  than  with  us  in  the 
United  States.  The  laborer  here  seems  to  dictate,  so  far  as  his  manner 
of  service  is  concerned,  as  competition  is  not  keen  enough  to  keep  him 
up  to  what  would  be  called  first-class  service. 

As  a  generality,  ordinary  work  is  slowly  done;  in  many  instances  im- 
I)erfectly  unless  closely  superintended.  Many  who  could  earn  more  do 
not  seem  to  care  to. 

In  the  department  of  home  servants  the  service  is  poor ;  farm  labor 
but  ordinary.  The  usual  causes  for  destitution,  mainly  drink,  prevail 
to  a  great  extent  here,  and  a  sort  of  desire  to  do  as  little  as  possible  for 
the  amounts  paid  is,  I  think,  a  fault  quite  prevalent.  A  mechanic  or 
laborer  can  live  here  at  a  moderate  expense,  though  food  prices  are 
higher  in  the  same  proportion — about  as  labor — than  in  1878. 

Rents  are  moderate;  a  good  tenement  in  a  "terrace  or  block,"  with 
from  five  to  seven  rooms,  can  be  had  from  $5  to  $7  per  month.  I  have 
also  lately"  inspected  some  houses,  newly  built — brick,  44  by  24  feet,  in 
lot  of  64  by  32  feet — containing  three  rooms  and  hall  on  first  floor  and 
six  bedrooms  on  second  floor;  house  well  finished;  good  cellar,  hard 
and  soft  water  (cistern  and  well),  wood-house  and  shed;  very  neat,  com- 
fortable tenement,  that  rented  for  $10  and  $12  i)er  month. 

These  are,  of  course,  exceptional,  yet  there  are  others  equally  roomy 
though  not  quite  so  well  finished,  and  some  of  them  in  better  locations, 
to  be  had  at  the  same  price. 

The  poorer  classes  of  tenements,  say  from  two  to  four  rooms,  can  be 
had  fiom  $2  to  $3.o0  per  month.  Very  few  of  these  tenements  have  any 
ground  attached. 

The  Knights  of  Labor  have  an  organization  here,  but  I  do  not  see  that 
it  has  any  appreciable  effect.  The  Molders'  Union  regulate  prices  in 
the  stove  works. 

No  strikes  have  occurred  since  I  have  resided  here.  The  laboring 
classes  are  free  to  purchase  their  necessaries  where  they  choose,  very 
little  being  done  in  the  way  of  "  store  pay." 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  5 

Ko  co-operative  societies  are  in  operation  in  this  district. 

The  honrs  of  labor  are  10  hours  per  day,  although  on  Saturday  labor- 
ers are  dismissed  from  4  to  5  o'clock.  The  public  offices  here — cus- 
toms, internal  revenue,  and  inspector  of  weights  and  measures — are  open 
from  9  a.  ra.  to  4  p.  m, ;  the  post-office  from  7.30  a.  m.  to  6.30  p.  m. 

The  banks  and  the  custom-house  close  at  1  o'clock  on  Saturday. 

The  right  of  suffrage  here  is  given  to  all  who  own,  rent,  or  occupy  a 
tenement,  the  value  of  which  in  cities  must  be  $400,  for  townships  $300, 
and  incorporated  villages  $200,  or  if  he  be  assessed  on  an  income  of 


The  rate  of  taxation  in  this  city  the  present  year  is  15  mills,  and  it 
has  been  as  high  as  19  mills ;  about  17  to  18  is  the  average.  This  in- 
cludes all  taxes — city,  school,  and  state.  The  rate  of  taxation  in  the 
county,  outside  of  city,  for  all  purposes,  is  about  13  mills. 

A  system  of  promotion  exists  here  in  some  branches,  based  to  a  great 
extent  in  length  of  service.  It  is  confined  mostly  to  the  railways  and 
banks,  and  a  benefit  fund  exists  amongst  the  employers  of  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railway.  The  Bank  of  Montreal  has  a  superannuation  and  pen- 
sion fund,  now  amounting  to  several  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The 
salaries  of  all  employes  are  taxed  3  per  cent,  for  this  fund. 

A  system  of  superannuation  and  gratuities  exist  in  the  civil  service 
of  Canada,  a  certain  per  cent,  of  each  employe's  pay  being  retained  for 
the  fund.  This  insures  a  certain  annual  allowance  or  a  fixed  gratuity 
on  retirement. 

I  have  thought  it  well,  in  view  of  the  interest  attaching  to  the  move- 
ment for  civil  service  in  our  own  coriitry,  to  present  an  epitome  of  the 
acts  relating  to  the  civil  service,  and  rhe  superannuation  allowances  of 
Canada.  It  will  be  observed  that  tlu'  act  covers  about  all  the  employes 
of  the  Government  except  the  heads  of  departments,  who  are  supposed 
to  retire  on  a  change  of  Government. 

THE   CIVIL  SERVICE   IN  CANADA. 

The  act  providing  for  the  civil  service  in  Canada  divides  the  service 
into  two  divisions : 

The  first,  or  "inside  departmental  division,"  comprises  the  employes 
mentioned  in  Schedule  A  employed  in  the  several  departments  at  Ot- 
tawa and  in  the  office  of  the  auditor-general. 

The  second,  or  "outside  departmental  division,"  comprises  employes 
of  classes  mentioned  in  Schedule  B,  and  who  are  employed  otherwise 
than  on  the  departmental  stafis  at  Ottawa. 

Schedule  A. — {a)  Deputy  heads  of  departments  ;  (ft)  officers  who  have 
special,  professional,  or  testimonial  qualifications ;  (c)  chief  clerks ;  {d) 
first-class  clerks;  (e)  second-class  clerks;  (/)  third-class  clerks;  (^)  mes- 
sengers, packers,  and  sorters. 

The  yearly  salaries  of  this  division  are  as  follows : 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Deputy  heads  of  departments , 

Chief  clerks 

First-clasH  clerks 

Second-class  clerks 

Third-class  clerks 

Messengers,  packers,  and  sorters 

*  An  ann\ial  increase  of  $50  till  the  pay  reaches  $1,800 
t  An  annual  increase  of  $50  till  the  pay  readies  $1,400 
1  An  annual  increase  of  $60  till  the  pay  reaches  $1,000 
§  An  annual  increase  of  $30  till  the  pay  reaches  $500. 


$3,  200 

1,800 

'1,400 

tl,  100 

;400 

SiiOO 


$4,  OOO 
2,400 
1,800 
1,400 
1,000 
500 


6  LABOR  IN  NOETH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

Schedule  B  comprises  all  the  officers,  clerks,  and  employes  here  enu- 
merated, and  such  other  officers  in  the  lower  grades  as  may  be  deter- 
mined by  order  in  council. 


Occupations. 


Inspectors 

Collectors 

Surveyors 

Chief  clerks 

Clerks 

Chief  landing  waiters . 

Landing  waiters 

Gangers 

Chief  lockers 

Lockers 

Tide  8  nrveyors 

Tide  waiters 

Preventive  ofBcers 

Messengers 

Appraisers 

Assistant  appraisers . . 


Customs  department. 


Inland  revenue  department. 

Chief  inspector , 

Inspector  of  distilleries 

District  inspectors 

Collectors  

Deputy  collectors 

Clerks  (accountants) , 

Special  class  excisemen 

First,  second,  and  third-class  excisemen 

Probationary  excisemen 

Messengers 


Lowest. 


$1,  600 
400 
1,200 
1,200 
600 
800 
600 
600 
800 
400 
800 
400 
400 
200 
800 
600 


2,000 
500 
400 
600 


600 
'206 


Highest. 


$2,  000 

4,000 

2,500 

2,000 

1,  200 

1,200 

1,000 

1,200 

1,200 

800 

1,000 

600 

600 

500 

2,000 

1,500 


3,000 
2,500 
2,500 
2,200 
1,500 
1,200 
1,200 
1,000 
500 
500 


For  surveys  of  important  manufacturing  establishments  an  additional 
salary  for  the  special  class  excisemen  who  perforin  that  duty,  not  ex- 
ceeding $200  per  annum. 


Occupations. 


Annnal 
pay. 


Post-offlce  department. 

Chief  inspector 

First  class : 

On  appointment 

After  ten  years'  service 

After  twenty  years'  service 

Second  class : 

On  appointment 

After  ten  years'  service 

After  twenty  years'  service 

Assistant  post-olfice  inspector : 

On  appointment 

After  ten  years'  service 

After  twenty  years'  service 


$2,  800 

2,200 
2,400 
2,600 

2,000 
2,200 
2,400 

1,  000 
1,200 
1,500 


Salaries  of  clerks  in  post-ofiSce  inspector's  ofBce  the  same  as  for  clerks  in  city  post-ofiices. 
RAILWAY  MAIL  CLERKS. 


Class. 

On  appointment. 

After  two  years' 
service. 

After  five  years' 
service. 

After  ten  years' 
service. 

Day 
service. 

Night 
service. 

Day 
service. 

Night 
service. 

Day 
service. 

Night 
service. 

Dajr 
service. 

Night 
service. 

First  class 

$720 
600 
480 

$880 
720 
660 

$800 
640 
520 

$1,  000 
800 
640 

$800 
720 
560 

$1, 100 
880 
700 

$960 
800 
640 

$1,  200 

1,000 

800 

Second  class 

Third  class 

In  addition  to  regular  salary  an  allowance  not  exceeding  half  a  cent  a  mile  for  every  mile  traveled 
on  duty  in  the  post-office  cars. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

MARINE  MAIL  CLERKS. 


On  appointment. 

After  two 
years. 

After  five 
years. 

After  ten 
years. 

After  fifteen 
years. 

Class. 

Salary. 

*Trip 
allow- 
ance. 

Salary. 

Trip 
allow- 
ance. 

Salary. 

Trip 
allow- 
ance. 

Salary. 

Trip 
allow- 
ance. 

Salary. 

Trip 
allow- 
ance. 

First  class 

Second  class 

$480 
360 

$80 
t50 

$560 
420 

$80 
50 

$600 

$80 

$800 

$100 

$1,  000 

$100 

*  "Trip  "  means  the  round  voyage  from  Quebec  or  Halifax  to  Liverpool  and  return. 
t  Only  one-half,  or  $25,  to  be  allowed  whilst  learning  duty. 

POST-OEEICES. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Oity  postmasters. 

$2,  600 
2  400 

Class  2,  where  postage  collections  are  from  $60,000  to  $80,000 

2,200 

2  000 

*$1,  400 

1,800 

Assistant  postmasters. 
Class  1 

2,000 

Class  2 

1,800 

Class  3 

1,600 

Class  4 

1,400 

ClassS 

1,100 

400 

900 

1,200 

300 

1,400 
800 

Clerks  in  city  post-offices. 
Third  class! 

Second  class  J 

1,200 

First  class  § . 

1,500 

Letter-carriers  and  messengers. 
Box  collectors  and  porters  {| 

600 

*|1,400  to  $1,800,  as  the  postmaster-goneral  may  determine.  These  salaries  are  not  supplemented 
^y  any  allowance  or  perquisite  whatever. 

tBy  Annual  increment  of  $40. 

J  By  annual  increment  of  $50. 

§  Specific  duties  in  each  case,  with  fixed  salaries,  to  be  determined  by  the  postmaster -general.  No 
.«alary  shall  be  less  than  $1,200  or  more  than  $1,500. 

II  By  annual  increment  of  $30. 

INSPECTOR   OF   PENITENTIARIES. 

The  same  scale  as  ytost-office  inspector.  The  salaries  of  the  employes  belonging  to 
"the  second  or  "outside  division"  of  other  departments  than  those  enumerated  above 
shall  be  fixed  by  the  governors  in  council. 


SUPERANNUATION. 

The  superannuation  of  persons  employed  in  the  civil  service  of  Canada 
as  provided  for  by  statute,  a  general  digest  of  which  is  as  follows  : 

The  superannuation  of  any  civil  servant  shall  be  preceded  by  an  in- 
-quiry  by  the  treasury  board  ; 

Whether  the  person  it  is  proposed  to  superannuate  is  eligible  within 
the  meaning  of  the  act. 

Whether  his  superannuation  will  result  in  benefit  to  the  service,  and 
is  therefore  in  the  public  interest;  or 

Whether  it  has  become  necessary  in  consequence  of  his  mental  or 


8  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

physical  infirmity.  And  no  civil  servant  shall  be  superannuated  unless? 
the  board  report  that  he  is  eligible  within  the  meaning  of  the  act,  and 
that  such  superannuation  will  be  in  the  public  interest. 

The  different  sections  of  the  act  provide  as  follows : 

First.  Superannuation  may  be  granted  to  any  person  having  served 
ten  years  and  upward,  or  being  incapacitated  by  bodily  infirmity,  the 
allowance  being  calculated  on  his  average  yearly  salary  during  the  then 
last  three  years,  not  exceeding  the  fallowing  rates:  If  he  has  served 
ten  years,  and  less  than  eleven  j^ears,  an  annual  allowance  of  ten-fiftieths 
of  such  average  salary  ;  if  for  eleven  years,  and  under  twelve  years,  an 
annual  allowance  of  eleven-fiftieths  thereof,  and  a  further  addition  of 
one-fiftieth  of  such  average  for  each  additional  year  of  service  up  to 
thirty-five  years,  when  an  annual  allowance  of  thirty-five-fiftieths  may 
be  granted,  but  no  addition  can  be  made  for  any  service  beyond  thirty- 
five  years.  If  the  service  has  not  been  continuous,  the  periods  during 
interruption  are  not  to  be  counted. 

Second.  Provides  that  in  case  of  any  person  who  has  entered  the 
service  over  40  years  of  age  and  who  is  possessed  of  some  i)eculiar  pro- 
fessional or  other  qualification  requisite  for  the  office  to  which  appointed 
and  not  ordinarily  to  be  acquired  in  the  service,  there  may  be  added  to 
his  actual  years  of  service,  any  number  of  years  not  exceeding  ten,  for 
the  purpose  of  superannuation. 

Third.  Provides  that  for  the  paymeutof  superannuations,  there  Shall 
be  an  abatement  made  from  all  salaries  under  this  act  of  4  per  cent,  on 
each  salary  of  $600  and  upward,  and  of  2^  per  cent,  on  all  less  than 
$600,  but  such  ;batoment  shall  not  be  made  after  thirty-six  years  of 
service. 

Fourth.  Provides  that  fun  jsaperannuation  allowance  shall  be  granted 
only  to  those  who  shall  have  been  subject  to  such  abatement  during 
ten  years  and  upward.  The  allowance  to  any  person  Wx.o  has  not  paid 
it,  or  have  paid  for  a  less  period,  is  subject  to  a  diminution  of  one- 
twentieth  for  every  year  less  than  ten  during  which  he  has  not  paid  it. 

Fifth,  Retirement  is  compulsory  on  any  person  to  whom  the  superan- 
nuation allowance  is  offered,  and  such  offer  is  not  considered  as  imply- 
ing censure ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  considered  as  having  any  absolute 
right  to  such  allowance,  but  it  is  granted  only  on  condition  of  good  and 
faithful  service  during  the  time  on  which  it  is  calculated.  ISTothing, 
however,  is  understood  to  impair  the  right  of  dismissal. 

Sixth.  Provides  that  if  any  person  is  constrained  to  apply  through, 
infirmity  of  mind  or  body  to  quit  the  service  before  the  period  at  which 
a  superannuation  allowance  ought  to  be  granted  to  him,  the  council  may 
allow  him  a  grant  not  exceeding  one  month's  pay  for  each  year  of  hi» 
service ;  and  if  in  case  of  bodily  injury  received  without  his  own  fault 
while  in  the  public  service,  he  may  be  allowed  bj'  the  council  a  gratuity 
not  exceeding  three  months'  pay  for  every  two  years'  sv^vice,  or  a  super- 
annuation allowance  not  exceeding  one-fifth  of  his  average  salary  during 
the  then  last  three  years. 

Seventh.  Provides  that  if  any  person  to  whom  the  foregoing  enact- 
ments apply  is  removed  from  office  in  consequence  of  its  abolition,  the 
governor  in  council  may  grant  him  such  gratuity  or  superannuation  al- 
lowance as  will  fairly  compensate  him  for  his  loss  of  office,  not  exceed- 
ing such  as  he  would  have  been  entitled  to  had  he  retired  in  consequence 
of  permanent  infirmity  of  body  or  mind  after  adding  ten  years  to  his- 
actual  term  of  service. 

Eighth.  Provides  that  any  person  receiving  a  superannuation  allow- 
ance, and  being  under  sixty  years  of  age,  and  not  disabled  bodily  of 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA.  9 

meutally,  shall  be  liable  to  be  called  ui)on  to  fill  in  any  part  of  Canada 
any  imblic  ofiice  or  situation  for  which  his  jorevious  services  render  him 
eligible,  and  not  lower  in  rank  or  eniolnuient  than  that  from  which  he 
retired  ;  and  if  he  refuse  or  neglect  so  to  do,  his  allowance  is  foifeited. 

All  allowance  aud  gratuities  under  this  act  are  payable  out  of  the 
consolidated  revenue  fund  of  Canada,  aud  a  statement  thereof  made 
before  Parliament  the  session  next  after  grant  or  i>ayment. 

A  civil  servant  in  Canada  is  j^rohibited  from  voting  for  members  of 
Parliament;  i.  e.,  if  he  is  in  the  provincial  service  he  may  not  vote  for 
a  provincial  member,  if  in  the  Dominion  service  he  may  not  vote  for  the 
members  of  the  Dominion  Parliament.  He  has  the  right  to  vote  for 
municipal  oflicers.  It  is  held  that  thus  divorcing  them  from  i)olitics 
assures  a  more  faithful  service,  and  it  is  not  expected  they  will  be  in 
any  way  active  in  politics,  even  in  municipal  matters. 

The  rates  of  compensation  fixed  for  the  majority  of  the  positions  seem 
low,  yet  it  seems  that  the  positions  are  coveted  by  and  filled  with  per- 
sons of  ability,  and  the  social  position  of  a  Government  employe  is  good. 

As  a  class  I  have  found  the  employes  in  the  civil  service  of  Canada 
intelligent,  capable,  and  obliging,  and  while  the  positions  are  sought 
for,  the  manner  of  appointment — depending  mainly  on  fitness — deprives 
it  of  much  of  the  indiscriminate  application  that  has  characterized  our 
service. 

FREDERICK  W.  PRINCE, 

Consul. 

Consulate  of  the  United  States, 

Belleville,  Canada,  December  29, 1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours,  in  Belleville,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers . 
Masons 

TendiTS , 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Slaters  

Koofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants... 

Carpenters 

Gas-fitters 


BUILDING   TEADKS. 


OTHEB  TRADES. 


Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Brickraakers 

Cipar-makers 

Drivers : 

Draymen  and  teamsters. 

Cab,  caiTiaj^e,  &.c 

Horseshoers 

Jewelers  

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  schools. . . 
Saddle  and  harness  makers . 


$12  00; 


12  00 


10  50 
9  00 


6  50 

8  00 

7  00 
6  00 

9  00 
10  00 

5  40 
5  50 


$15  00, 


15  00 


12  00 
10  50 


9  00 

12  00 

10  50 
7  00 

13  50 
15  00 

7  50 
10  00 


$13  50 

7  50 

13  50 

7  50 

12  00 

7  56 

11  00 
10  OO 

7  50 

12  00" 
9  00 

12  OO 

12  OO 


12  00 
9  OO 

7  50 
10  OO 

8  00 
6  50- 

12  00 

12  50 

6  00 

8  50 


9  00  I  .J^  12  00 


10  0» 


10  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours,  in  JBelleville,  Canada — Continued. 


Occupation. 


Other  trades  -  Continued- 
Stevedores 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Teachers,  puVilic  schools,  male  per  year 

Teachers,  public  schools,  female  per  year 

Teachers,  public  schools,  city,  female 

Teachers,  city,  male 

Teachers,  city  high  school 

Lumbermen,  winter  wages  in  camps : 

Chopper  i 

Skidder  >  Per  month  with  board 

Sawyer    ) 

Summer  wages,  driving  logs 

Coots  for  above 

Foremen,  both  winter  and  summer 


Lowest. 


$6  00 
7  50 
9  00 
3  00 

2  75 

3  00 
6  00 
6  00 


10  00 

26  00 
30  00 
50  00 


Highest. 


$9  00 
15  00 
13  50 
5  50 
4  50 
4  50 
7  50 
11  00 


15  00 

35  00 
37  50 
65  00 


Average. 


$7  50 
12  50 
12  00 
4  50 
3  50 
3  75 
6  50 
8  50 


30  00 
35  00 
55  00 


*In  the  high  schools  of  Ontario  if  the  amount  of  wages  exceeds  $2,000,  45  per  cent,  of  the  amount  is 
paid  by  the  provincial  government. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-eight  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  tvorks  in 

Belleville,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Stove  foundry. 


Engineer 

Melter 

Polisher  . , 
Tinsmiths 
Carpenters 
Blacksmiths 
Pattern  makers  i 
Finishers 
Holders  . . 
Mounters. 


Ui 


Iron  foundry. 


Molders 

Foreman 

Pattern  makers 

Machinists 

Blacksmiths 

Boiler  makers  . . 


Lowest. 


$15  00 
13  50 


00 


12  00 
10  00 
10  50 
12  00 


Highest. 


$18  00 
15  00 


12  00 


15  00 

12  00 

13  50 
13  50 


Average. 


$12  00 

12  00 
10  50 

9  00 

13  50 

16  50 

14  00 


10  50 
15  00 
13  00 

11  50 

12  50 

13  00 


YI.  Railway  employes. 


Wages  paid  to  railway  bmploy4s  {those  engaged  about  stations  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  lintmen,  railroad  laborers,  cj-c.)  in  Belleville,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Jlailway  baggagemen 

Ticket  clerk         ..             

per  day.. 

do 

$1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

90 

1  30 

90 

90 

500  00 

400  00 

300  00 

$1  50 
2  00 
2  00 

1  50 

2  00 

1  50 

2  50 
1  80 
1  50 

1,  500  00 

1,  000  00 

850  00 

$1  25 
1  50 

Frei^bt  checkers 

do.... 

do.... 

1  50 
1  25 

Yard  foremen 

do.... 

do.... 

1  50 
1  20 

do-... 

1  90 

do..-. 

1  35 

do... 

1  20 

Station  agents 

■Telefjraph  operators 

Freight  clerks 

per  annum . . 

do 

do... 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 


11 


Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty-four  hours  in  dry  goods  and  grocery  stores,  wholesale  or  reta  ih 
to  males  and  females,  in  Belleville,  Canada. 


Occupationa. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$7  50 
10  50 

4  00 
2  00 

$12  50 
12  50 

8  00 
5  00 

$10  00 
11  00 

MILLINERY  DEPARTMEST. 

5  50 

4  OU 

6  00 

3  50 
2  50 

5  00 
5  00 

4  00 

Knitting  factory  girls 

4  00 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  or  year  to  household  servants  [towns  and  cities)in  Belleville,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

House  servants  (female) 

$6  00 

$8  00 

$6  50 

jpu 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country  )s€rvant8  in  Belleville,  Canada; 
with  or  without  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Farm  hand,  with  board per  month.. 

Farm  hands,  wit  lion  t  board do... 

Farm  domestics,  with  board per  week.. 

Farm  hands  during  harvest,  with  board per  da j' . . 


Lowest. 


$16  00 


1  25 
1  00 


Highest. 


$20  00 


1  63 
1  25 


Average. 


$18  50 

25  50 

1  50 

1  20 


XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  employ^  in  the  city  of  Belleville. 

[A  week  of  58  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Ordinary  street  hands ■ per  week.. 

Sidewalk  hands do 

Culvert  hands do 

Entrineers  fire  steamers,  with  residence,  fuel,  and  lights,  per  annum  ... 
Stokers  fire  steamers do 


Lowest. 


$4  80 
1  00 
1  00 


Highest. 


$7  50 
1  75 
1  75 


Average. 


$6  00 

9  00 

9  00 

450  00 

50  00 


12  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  pel-  year  to  employes  hi  Government  departments  and  offices — exclusive  of  trades- 
men  and  laborers — in  Belleville,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest, 


Arerage 


Customs. 


Collector 

Clerk 

Landing  waiter  . . . 

Do 

Preventive  officer. 


Internal  revenue. 


Collector... 
Deputy  — 
Exciseman 
Do... 


Post-office. 


Postmaster 

Asfli.stant  postmaster . 

Third-class  clerk 

Do 

Letter-carrier 


Inspector  of  weights  and  measures - 


-do. 


1,200 
900 
600 
300 
20O 


1,200 

1,000 

980 

60O 


1,400 
800 
600 
560 
360 

1,200 


XIV.  Trades  A'sb  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  hy  the  year  to  the  trades  and  laborer's  in  Government  employ  in  BellevilU, 

Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest, 

Average. 

$600 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  tfc, )  in  Belleville,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest, 

Highest, 

Average. 

$5  50 

$10  00 

$8  50 

9  OO 

12  00 

14  00 

13  OO 

12  OO 

7  00 

CHATHAM. 

REPORT  BY  OOMMEROIAL  AGENT  BUFFINQTON. 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  such  information  as  I  have  been 
able  to  obtain  on  the  subjects  referred  to  in  the  "  Labor  Circular"  of 
February  15th  ultimo. 

rates  of  wages. 

The  rates  of  wages  current  in  the  various  trades  and  labor  depart- 
ments, represented  in  my  district,  will  be  found  in  the  accompanying 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  13 

schedules,  which  have,  as  far  as  practicable,  been  prei)ared  from  data 
furnished  by  the  employers  of  the  labor  specified  aud  gleaned  from  in- 
quiries among  the  workmen  themselves.  While  an  "  average"  is  very 
difficult  to  arrive  at,  in  some  cases,  the  figures  quoted  will  be  a  close  ap- 
proximation to  the  prevailing  rates,  the  highest  rates  being  rarely  paid. 

THE   COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life  in  this  part  of  Canada,  when 
compared  with  the  current  rates  of  wages,  are  exceedingly  high,  and  it 
is  a  matter  for  wonder  how  the  more  poorly  paid  among  the  workingmen, 
and  multitudes  who  have  been  unable  to  obtain  employment  during  the 
past  severe  winter,  contrived  to  subsist.  It  is  generally  conceded  that 
the  season  just  past  has  been  the  hardest  one  on  laborers  for  many  years ; 
in  this  part  of  Canada  the  failure  in  crops  was  more  marked  than  in  the 
east,  and,  of  course,  intensified  their  suiferiugs. 

Clothing  is  rather  cheaper  than  two  or  three  years  ago,  but  the  de- 
cline in  prices  has  been  consequent  on  the  general  stagnation  of  trade 
and  the  glut  in  the  cotton  aud  woolen  market  of  the  Dominion  ;  so  that 
it  can  scarcely  be  said  that  the  decline  in  the  prices  of  wearing  material, 
under  the  circumstances,  inured  to  the  benefit  of  labor,  as  with  that 
decline  came  sweeping  reductions  in  the  number  of  men  employed  and 
in  the  hours  of  labor,  as  well  as  the  general  reduction  in  wages.  A 
decline  in  the  cost  of  the  commodities  used  by  the  wage  earners  is  little 
to  their  advantage  when  the  causes  which  combine  to  bring  it  about 
take  from  them  the  greater  proportion  of  the  scanty  means  at  their  dis- 
posal for  their  purchase. 

I  quote  a  few  of  the  prices  of  the  staple  articles  of  food  by  way  of 
illustrating  the  uecessary  narrowness  of  the  margin  between  receipts 
and  expenditure,  even  in  the  case  of  the  most  economical  and  steady 
wage  worker  who  has  a  family  depending  upon  him  for  a  livelihood  : 
Flour,  $3  to  $3.50  per  hundred  weight;  beefsteak,  12^c.to  15c.;  beef, 
roast,  12ic.  to  15c. ;  ditto,  boiling,  Sc.  to  10c. ;  pork,  per  quarter,  9c.  to 
10c. ;  retail,  roast,  12^c.  to  15c. ;  bacon,  15c.  to  17c. ;  hams,  17c.  to  18c. ; 
mutton,  12ic.  to  15c.;  potatoes,  50c.  to 60c.  per  bushel;  apples,  25c.  to 
30c.  per  peck  ;  onions,  $1  per  bushel;  parsnips,  75c.  to  $1  per  bushel; 
eggs,  per  dozen,  25c.  to  35c. ;  butter,  25c.  to  32c.  When  these  prices 
are  taken  into  consideration  it  becomes  evident  that  with  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  wage  earners  the  practice  of  economy  is  not  a  matter  of  choice 
but  rather  of  stern  necessity. 

WAGES   PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

Compared  with  that  of  the  year  1878,  the  condition  and  prospects  of 
labor  are  not  as  encouraging  as  could  be  wished  for.  That  year  was 
the  culmination  of  a  lengthened  i)eriod  of  crop  failures,  local  and  gen- 
eral, and  intensified  by  the  prevailing  world-wide  financial  stringency. 
But  living  expenses  were  light,  the  prices  of  food  and  clothing,  fuel 
aud  rent  beiug  at  a  minimum,  so  that  the  wages  paid — small  though 
they  were — bore  at  least  a  kind  of  pro}>ortion  to  the  laborers'  necessi- 
ties. Thus  it  happens  that  although  the  wages  paid  are,  in  some  in- 
stances, higher  than  those  of  1878,  the  increase  in  the  cost  of  living  is 
such  as  to  more  than  deprive  the  laborer  of  any  advantage  arising  from 
that  circumstance.  Wages  are  rather  lower  now  than  a  few  months 
ago  and  the  indications  are  that  should  anything  occur  to  blight  the 
crop  prospects  they  will  drop  still  lower.     It  is  a  common  remark  that 


14  LABOR   IN   NOETH    AMERICA:    CANADA 

"  times  are  very  tight"  for  labor,  and  if  anything  was  required  to  con- 
vince of  the  fact  the  number  of  unemployed  men  to  be  seen  walking 
the  streets  of  the  towns  and  villages  would  furnish  sufficient  evidence. 
The  Dominion  Government  has  agreed  to  advance  the  Canada  Pacific 
Eailway  Company  a  loan  of  $30,000,000  to  enable  them  to  proceed  with  the 
construction  of  their  road  and  branches,  one  of  which  is  expected  to  pass 
through  this  town  and  connect  their  Credit  Valley  road,  at  Ingersoll, 
with  the  American  system  at  Detroit,  and  without  going  out  of  my 
province  to  speculate  on  the  wisdom  of  the  grant  or  otherwise,  or  the 
probable  eflect  of  a  road  calculated  to  compete  with  other  lines  being 
heavily  bonused  by  the  Federal  Government,  I  may  say  that  it  is  the 
general  opinion  that  in  certain  portions  of  the  country  the  expenditure 
will  act  as  a  stimulus.  In  the  meantime  large  numbers  of  the  more 
enterprising  workmen,  recognizing  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  are 
betaking  themselves  to  the  prairies  of  the  West,  a  goodly  proportion 
settling  on  the  American  side  in  consequence  of  the  greater  liberality,, 
stability,  and  more  judicious  administration  of  the  settlement  regula- 
lations  as  compared  with  those  of  the  Canadian  Northwest. 

HABITS   OF   THE  WORKING  CLASSES. 

The  habits  of  the  working  classes,  generally  speaking,  are  regular,, 
and,  as  a  rule,  they  are  industrious,  intelligent,  and  reliable.  The  only 
evil  which  afflicts  them  in  any  marked  degree  is  that  of  intemperance  j 
and  that,  perhaps,  as  slightly  as  in  any  portion  of  the  continent  where 
intoxicants  are  sold  under  license.  Vigorous  efforts  are  being  put  forth 
to  bring  a  prohibitory  measure  before  the  people  of  this  county,  and,  it 
is  admitted  bv  its  opponents,  with  reasonable  hopes  of  success.  From 
the  general  satisfaction  its  operation  has  given  in  other  counties  in 
which  it  has  been  in  force,  and  the  fact  that  after  lenghtened  trial  the 
attempts  to  repeal  it  have  been  overwhelmingly  voted  down,  I  incline 
to  the  opinion  that  its  introduction  will  be  beneficial. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOY]^. 

The  feeling  between  employer  and  employ^  is  generally  of  the  most 
cordial  character.  The  desire  for  reciprocal  benefits  seems  to  influence 
both  in  their  dealings. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS. 

With  the  single  exception  of  the  railway  employes,  I  know  of  no  or- 
ganization of  labor,  in  my  district,  comprising  more  than  a  few  mem- 
bers of  some  of  the  more  widely  scattered  associations.  Organizations- 
of  capital  to  aflect  labor  are  equally  conspicuous  by  their  absence. 

STRIKES   AND   THEIR  EFFECTS. 

It  follows  that  there  being  no  organizations  of  labor,  and  good  feel- 
ing between  employer  and  employe  prevailing,  such  a  contingency  as  a 
strike  must  be  an  untoward  occurrence.  With  the  exception  of  the 
railway  hands  there  has  been  no  striking  in  this  district.  The  strike  of 
the  Grand  Trunk  Kailway  employes,  some  time  ago,  did  not  result  in 
obtaining  the  concessions  asked  ;  but  it  has  been  the  means  of  bringing 
about  many  reforms  in  the  service.  Wages  have,  however,  even  during 
the  most  active  period,  remained  low,  and  at  present  the  management 
propose  a  cut  of  10  per  cent,  all  around,  and  this  after  largely  reducing 
the  staff'  employed.  I  am  informed  that,  profiting  by  the  experiences 
of  the  last  strike,  and  believing  they  were  unfairly  paid  during  the  in- 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  15 

terveninf?  period  of  the  road's  prosperity,  the  men  have  intimated  that 
sooner  than  submit  to  the  proposed  cut  (which  would  reduce  some  men'a 
wages  to  considerably  under  $1  i)erday)  the  employes  will  go  out  on  strike, 
and  that  in  event  of  such  an  occurrence  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Engineers  will  be  with  them.  As  the  company,  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  is  not  in  a  jiosition  to  cope  with  such  a  strike,  it  is  extremely  im- 
probable that  they  will  attempt  to  carry  into  effect  the  proposed  reduc- 
tion. 

FREEDOM   OF  PURCHASE. 

Workingmen  are  generally  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fullest  liberty  to 
purchase  where  and  how  they  please — customs  regulations,  of  course, 
excepted.  Some  few  firms  who  own  stores  and  employ  labor  exercise 
an  imi)lied  restraint  in  this  particular;  but  the  number  is  rapidly  de- 
creasing, and  the  system  is  unpopular. 

PAYMENT   OF  LABOR. 

When  no  contract  is  made  specifying  other  terms,  payments  are 
made  weekly,  usually  Saturdays.  Eailway  hands  are  i^aid  monthly, 
fifteen  days'  pay  being  held.  Farm  laborers  seldom  have  regular  times- 
of  payment,  and  in  many  cases  draw  what  they  require  to  use  as  wanted 
and  the  residue  at  the  end  of  their  term.  Payments  in  bank  notes, 
silver,  or  gold.  American  currency  passes  at  par  in  all  transactions, 
Government  departments  excepted,  in  this  i)art  of  Canada.  Such  is 
not  the  case  further  east,  where  United  States  silver  is  subjected  to  a 
discount. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

Co-operative  societies  are  represented  in  my  district  by  a  solitary 
specimen,  the  Grange,  a  kind  of  farmers'  club  and  association  for  co- 
operative i^urchase.  Mechanics  and  laborers  have  not  found  those 
ventures  warranted,  and  the  indifferent  success  attending  the  Grange, 
in  which  no  small  amount  of  capital  has  been  invested,  has  not  been 
calculated  to  promote  experiments  in  that  direction.  The,  at  one  time, 
dreaded  effect  of  the  "  Grange  stores "  on  general  trade  has  passed 
away,  and  as  far  as  relates  to  their  influence  on  prices  of  or  demand  for 
merchandise  they  are  a  nullity. 

GENERAL   CONDITION. 

The  general  condition  of  the  laboring  classes  is  not  dissimilar  to  that 
of  tliose  of  our  Northern  States.  Wages,  I  believe,  rule  lower.  Work- 
men interviewed  say  that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  save  anything;  and 
from  the  figures  obtainable  I  am  led  to  indorse  the  view  that  only  in  the 
most  remunerative  of  the  occupations  named  can  a  man  of  familj^  main- 
tain them  in  comfort  and  lay  away  a  reserve  fund. 

SAFETY  OF  EMPL0Y:6s. 

The  provisions  for  the  safety  of  employes  in  mills  and  factories  are 
wofully  inadequate.  I  would  scarcely  overstate  the  case  if  I  said  there 
were  none.  In  fact  some  of  the  railway  companies  oblige  their  em- 
ployes, on  hiring,  to  sign  an  agreement  intended  to  release  them  from 
liability  should  the  employ^  be  injured  or  killed,  while  in  their  service, 
by  any  cause  whatever.  The  courts,  however,  have  decided  that,  in 
cases  of  carelessness  on  the  part  of  the  servants  of  the  road  at  least, 
such  contract  shall  be  no  bar  to  a  suit  for  damages. 


16  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

In  mills  and  factories  a  very  unsatisfactory  neglect  of  the  employes' 
interest  is  manifested.  I  note  that  acts  for  providing  for  the  safety  and 
general  regulation  of  factory  employes  are  now  receiving  eg  slative 
consideration. 

The  sanitary  influences  to  which  labor  is  subjected  come  under  the 
scrutiny  of  the  local  and  provincial  boards  of  health,  and  sanitation  is 
so  carefully  attended  to  that  it  is  almost  a  science  in  execution  as  well 
as  theory.  The  police  are  health  officers  under  the  direction  of  the 
municipal  and  medical  advisory  boards  and  inspectors,  armed  with  all 
necessary  authority  to  make  weekly  visits  to  every  part  of  the  towns 
and  villages.  This  house-to-house  inspection — the  inspectors  being 
changed  from  one  beat  to  another  weekly — is  productive  of  general 
cleanliness  and  conducive  to  the  well-being  of  the  community. 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS. 

The  workingmen  enjoy  all  the  rights  and  privileges  political  of  the 
country.  If  a  man's  name  appears  on  the  assesmeut  roll  of  the  munici- 
pality of  which  he  is  a  resident,  as  tenant  or  occupant  of  premises  that 
entitles  the  owner  thereof  to  a  vote,  he  also  is  entitled  to  vote;  and  as 
his  liberty  is  religiously  guarded  by  the  ballot  system  of  voting,  he  has 
the  inivilege — and  exercises  it — of  making  himself  felt  in  the  country's 
legislation.  The  tendency  of  recent  legislation  has  been  to  increase 
these  privileges. 

EMIGRATION. 

The  general  cause  of  emigration  is  the  settled  conviction  that  in  the 
existing  condition  and  apparent  prospects  for  the  future  there  is  but 
little  hope  that  labor  can  secure  a  profit.  The  causes  influencing  their 
selection  of  objective  points  are  varied,  but  the  central  one  is  to  secure 
a  home  and  a  means  of  subsistence  which  will  render  them  independent 
of  the  many  circumstances  which  go  to  immediately  affect  labor.  Many 
go  to  the  manufacturiug  districts  of  the  United  States  to  seek  a  more 
liberal  remuneration  for  their  toil  and  skill — and  it  is  an  axiom  here 
that  first  class  men  are  better  paid  "in  the  States" — but  large  numbers 
go,  as  I  have  previously  intimated,  to  settle  and  secure  homes.  I  can- 
not speak  for  other  parts  of  the  country,  but  from  this  district  the  ma- 
jority emigrating  go  to  become  American  citizens.  JSTo  less  than  six  or 
eight  railway  agents  devote  their  whole  time  to  organizing  and  taking 
out  parties  from  this  locality.  Thus  early  in  the  season  several  large 
parties  have  left  for  Dakota,  Minnesota,  and  Iowa.  There  is  consider- 
ble  dissatisfaction  with  the  regulations  aflectiug  Canadian  northwest 
lands  and  their  administration,  the  result  of  which  is  the  diverting  of 
the  stream  of  very  desirable  emigrants  into  our  northern  States  and 
Territories,  where  the  regulations  work  more  smoothly. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

The  extent  to  which  female  labor  is  emi^loyed  in  my  district  is  so 
limited  that  I  would  scarcely  be  justified  in  lengtheniug  out  this  report 
by  extended  remarks  on  the  subject.  The  number  employed  is  small, 
and  chiefly  confined  to  public  school  teachers,  clerks,  music  teachers, 
hotel  and  household  cooks,  laundresses,  «&c.  In  these  employments 
they  are  subject  to  the  same  conditions  and!, perform  the  same  work  as 
for  service  of  a  like  nature  in  the  United  States.  Their  remuneration, 
however,  is  less  generous  and  the  field  is  much  more  circumscribed. 
They  are  not  employed  to  su.(;h  a  degree  as  to  affect  the  wages  of  male 
labor.  To  obtain  employment  outside  of  household  service  women  re- 
quire to  possess  a  fair  education. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


17 


GENERAL   SUiDdARY. 

Tlie  fjeiKM-al  condition  of  labor  in  this  district,  which  is  pre-eminently 
an  a^ricultnral  one,  is  unhealtliy.  Wages  are  low  and  enii)loyinent 
scarce,  while  the  necessaries  of  life  are  high.  An  improvement  is 
looked  for  in  the  opening  of  the  season,  bnt  I  see  no  reason  for  an- 
tici|)atiiig  more  than  a  slight  and  temi)orary  improvement  at  best.  My 
opinion  is  based  on  the  fact  that  the  market  for  manafactiires  is  glutted, 
and  in  consequence  of  that  a  suri)lus  of  labor  is  already  at  hand,  so  that 
a  great  increase  in  the  rates  of  wages  paid  is  not  to  be  expected.  Add 
to  this  the  fact  that  the  Caliadian  Government  have  already  arranged  for 
a  large  im])ortation  of '' assisted  emigrants"  during  the  season,  and  the 
various  IJritish  societies  are  prei)aring  to  supplement  their  efforts,  and 
it  will  be  admitted  that  the  outlook  for  the  wage-earner  is  not  the  most 
inviting.  True,  a  great  number  of  these  emigrants  soon  find  their  way 
across  the  lines,  while  some  go  to  the  Xorthwest,  but  the  fact  remains 
that  their  continuous  introduction  on  a  market  already  overstocked 
cannot  but  be  displacing  and  depressing  to  labor. 

H.  C.  BUFFINGTON, 

Commercial  Agent. 

United  States  Cojoiercial  Agency, 

Chatham,  July,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  Chatham. 


Occapations. 


Lowest. 

$10  00 

6  00 

12  00 

6  00 

9  CO 

6  00 

8  00 

7  50 

6  00 

10  00 

7  00 

9  00 

9  00 

7  50 

8  50 

7  00 

7  25 

8  00 

6  00 

7  50 

8  00 

7  50 

6  00 

7  00 

5  00 

8  00 

7  50 

6  00 

8  00 

Highest 


Average. 


Bncltlayers 

Hi  id-carriers  . 
Masous    

Tenders  

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Slaters  

Koofers      

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants  . . 

CarppDters 

Gas- filters 


BUILDtNG  TRADES. 


OTHES  TRADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Book-binders  

Brick-makers 

Butchers   

Cabinet-makers 

Confeitioiiers 

Cortpei'rt 

Draymen  and  teamsters,  and  cab  and  carriage  drivers 

Dyers 

Gardeners  

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  <tc 

Mill  wriiihts 


$18  00 

8  00 
20  00 

8  00 
13  50 

8  00 
12  00 
10  00 

8  00 
12  00 

8  50 
12  00 
12  00 


10  00 
12  00 

9  00 
10  00 
12  00 

9  00 
J2  00 
12  00 
10  00 

9  00 

9  00 

7  50 
12  00 
12  00 

8  50 
12  00 


$12  00 
7  50 

13  50 
7  50 

10  00 
7  50 
9  00 
9  00 
7  00 

10  00 
7  50 

10  00 

10  00 


9  00 
9  00 

7  50 

8  00 

9  00 

7  50 
9  00 

8  50 
8  00 

7  50 

8  50 
7  00 

9  00 
10  00 

7  25 
10  00 


92  A— 2  lab- 


18  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

Wages  jiciid  2>6f'  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Chatham — Coutinued. 


Occupations. 


Other  trades — Continued. 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  school 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Tanners 

Tailors  

Tek-graph  operators 

Weavei  s  (outside  of  mills) 

Shoemakers 


Lowest.     Highest. 


$7  00 

*200  00 

8  00 

7  50 

7  50 

6  00 

8  00 

7  50 


$12  00 
1,  000  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
9  00 


Average. 


$8  50 

*450  00 

9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

7  50 
9  00 

8  25 


■  Per  annum. 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  jyer  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  07-  mills  in  Kent  County,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$9  00 

$15  00 

7  50 

10  00 

6  00 

9  00 

9  00 

13  50 

4  00 

6  00 

7  50 

9  00 

4  00 

6  00 

4  00 

8  00 

7  00 

9  00 

Average. 


Head  sawyer  or  filer 

Engineer 

General  saw-mUl  hands 

Stave-cutters 

Handlers 

"Wood-working  machine  hands 

"Woolen-factory  spinners 

"Weavers 

Dyers  and  finishers 


$10  00 
8  50 

7  50 
10  00 

5  00 

8  00 
5  00 

7  50 

8  50 


III. — Foundries,  machine-skops,  andiron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Ken 

County,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Molders 

Laborers  and  assistants 

Lathe  hands 

"Vise-hands 

Painters  (fancy) 

Wood-workers 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$8  00 

$10  00 

7  50 

9  00 

9  00 

12  00 

8  00 

11  00 

9  00 

12  00 

8  00 

10  00 

Average. 


$9  00 

8  00 
10  00 

9  00 
10  00 

9  00 


YI.   EAILWAY  EMPLOYlfiS. 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  abovt  stations,  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  tfc. )  in  Ontario,  westerly 
part. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$22  00 

$40  00 

26  00 

35  00 

40  00 

65  00 

40  00 

100  00 

30  00 

45  00 

26  00 

32  00 

26  00 

32  00 

20  00 

40  00 

26  00 

35  00 

1  75 

3  00 

500  00 

1,  000  00 

Average. 


Brakemen  per  month.. 

Baggagemen do 

Conductors do 

Engineers do 

Firemen do 

Flag  and  switch  men do 

Oilers do 

Operators do 

Section-men do 

Repairers  (machinists) per  day. . 

Station-masters per  annum. . 


$32  00 
30  00 
50  00 
65  00 
35  00 
30  00 
30  00 
26  00 
30  00 
2  25 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 


19 


Wages  paid  per  tveek  of  sixty  hours  in  dry  goods  and  other  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males 
and  females,  in  Kent  County,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occapationa. 

1 
Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

i 

$6  CO 

3  50 

3  00 

j          6  00 

400  00 

$10  00 

6  00 

6  00 

9  00 

1,  000  00 

$7  50 
4  50 

5  00 

7  00 

Bookkeepers 

per  annum.. 

600  00 

Tailoresses  usally  paid  piece-work,  a«  follows :  Coat,  $1.50 ;  pants,  75  cents ;  vest,  75  cents. 

y.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  household  servants  {toicns  and  cities)  in  Kent  County,  Ontario, 

Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.  I  Highest.    Average, 


Laundresses 

Cooks  (in  hotels) , 

Cooks  (private  houses) 

General  household  servants 


$2  00  I 
3  00  i 
1  75  I 
1  50  I 


$6  00  I  $3  00 

7  00  !  4  00 

3  50  I  2  50 

2  50  I  2  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Kent  County, 
Ontario,  tvith  or  without  hoard  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Farm  laborers  when  engaged  by  year  (with  board) 1    $150  00       $250  00 

Farm  laborers  when  engaged  tor  term  of  6  mouths  (with  board)  from 

April  1  to  October  1  

Farm  laborers  when  engaged  for  harvest  only,  per  day  (with  board)  . 
Female  household  servants  (per  week) 


$200  00 


100  00 
1  25 
1  00 


125  00 
2  50 
2  00 


(*) 


1  75 
1  50 


*  About  $18  per  month. 
Note. — The  number  of  females  employed  in  household  service  in  the  farm  residence  is  small. 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  employe's  in  the  city  of  Chatham,  Ontario. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.    Average. 


Clerk 

Police  magistrate 

Treasurer 

Collector  (commission). 
Assessors  (three)  each  . 

Chief  of  police 

Policemen 

Street  surveyor 

Firemen 

Workmen 


.per  annum. 

do... 

do... 


.per  annum. 

do... 

do... 

do... 

do... 

. .  per  week . 


$350  00 
6  00 


$450  00 
8  00 


$1,000  00 

1,  000  00 

600  00 

J  of  Ip.c. 
133  33 
750  00 
450  00 
450  00 


7  50 


20  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices  {exclusive  of  iradea- 
men  and  laborers)  in  Chatham  and  Kent  generally. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.    Average. 


AT  CHATHAM. 


Customs  collector . 
Landing  waiter. ... 
Subcollectois 


$400  00 


AT  WALLACEBUEG. 


Customs  collector 

Landing  waiter 

SubcoUector 

District  weights  and  measures  inspection : 

Inspector    

Subinspectors    

District  inland  revenue: 

Collector 

Two  deputies,  each  at 

Eight  deputies,  each  at 

Gas  inspector  

Chatham  postmaster 

County  oftices 

Clerk  of  Crown  

School  inspectors 

Light-hou.se  keepers 

Fishery  oflScers 


686  00 


500  00 

150  00 

50  00 


$600  00 


900  00 


300  00 


1,  000  00 

400  00 

50  00 


$L  100  00 
800  00 


700  00 

600  00 

400  00 

900  00 

500  00 

1, 764  00 

980  04 


508  81 
*2, 100  00 


t450  00 
600  00 


*  And  allowances  of  $640. 
The  above  are  actual  salaries  as  given  in  the  Government  returns. 


t  And  fees. 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  pressmen,  proof-readers,  ^-c.) 

in  Kent  County,  Ontario. 


Occupations. 


Foreman 

Compositors 

Compositors,  per  thousand  ems 

Job  printers 

Pressmen 

Feeders  (youths) 

Proof-readers 

Apprentices 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$9  00 

$12  00 

7  00 

10  00 

21 

25 

8  00 

12  00 

7  00 

9  00 

4  50 

6  00 

8  00 

12  00 

2  50 

4  00 

Average. 


$10  00 
8  50 

9  00 

8  00 
5  00 

9  00 

HAMILTON. 


REPORT  BY  CONSUL  HAZLETON. 


The  rate  of  wa^es  paid  to  the  several  classes  of  laborers  employed 
in  this  consular  district  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  fully,  as  there  is 
no  published  statement  giving  the  same  in  detail,  and  business  men 
whom  I  have  asked  for  the  information  have  varied  considerably  as  to 
the  rates  paid  by  them  for  labor  of  the  same  class,  while  others  have 
declined  to  furnish  any  statement  of  rates  paid  when  requested  to  do  so. 


acknowledgments. 


I  am  greatly  indebted  to  the  following  parties  for  information  kindly 
furnished  which  appears  in  the  inclosed  tables,  viz,  Charles  Stiff",  man- 
ager of  the  Great  Western  Division  of  the  Grand  Trunk  Eailroad ; 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


21 


John  Smith,  agent  of  the  Ontario  Imniig^ration  Society;  the  Ontario 
Cotton  Mills  Company  at  Hamilton,  tlie  Dnndas  cotton  mills  at  Dundas, 
the  Stewart  Stove  Manufactory,  and  the  Waiizer  Sewing  Machine  Com- 
pany at  Hamilton,  as  shown  by  the  tables  inclosed. 

COST   OF  LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  varies  considerably,  owing 
to  the  kind  of  employment,  habits,  &q.,  of  the  employed.  In  this  con- 
sular district  most  of  the  industrial  pursuits  demand  hard  labor.  In 
this  city  are  ten  iron  foundries  em])loying  about  nine  hundred  work- 
men;  cotton  mills  employing  six  hundred  workmen;  glass  companies 
employing  one  hundred  workmen;  the  \Yanzer  Sewing  Machine  Com- 
pany employing  two  hundred  and  fifty  workmen,  besides  many  smaller 
manufactories  of  various  kinds  giving  employment  to  a  large  number 
of  laborers;  all  of  whom  require  substantial  living,  consisting  usually 
of  meat  with  potatoes  and  bread  twice  a  day.  The  third  meal  consists 
of  some  kind  of  bread  with  butter,  or  something  taking  its  place. 
ISTearly  all  use  tea  and  coffee. 

The  retail  prices  of  ordinary  articles  of  food  and  raiment  used  by  the 
working  classes  in  this  district  are  as  follows,  viz : 


Articles. 


Cost. 


Articles. 


Bacon per  pound.. 

Ham do  ... 

Shoulder do 

Beef do 

Mutton do 

Veal do  ... 

Butter  do 

Cheese do  ... 

Coffee do 

Codfish   do 

Mustard do 

Pepper do 

Eice do 

Soap  do 

Sugar do 

Tea,  green do 

Tea,  black..  do.... 

Tobacco  do 

Corn  meal 100  pounds.. 

Flour do 

Buckwheat  flour do 

Bread 2-pouud  loaf. . 

Milk quart.. 

Eggs  dozen.. 

Oatmeal 100  pounds. . 

Potatoes 60  pounds . . 


$0  10  to 

12  to 

9to 

8  to 

10  to 

8  to 

15  to 

10  to 

25  to 

7  to 

30  to 

20  to 

5  to 

5to 

6to 

40  to 

25  to 

30  to 

1  75  to 

2  .SO  to 

3  00  to 

5  to 

15  to 

2  00  to 
60  to 


$0  13 

15 

12 

12 

12 

12 

22 

13 

40 

8 

35 

25 

6 

6 

9 

50 

50 

50 

2  00 

2  75 

3  50 

6 
6 

17 
2  25 

80 


Salt 60  pounds 

Herrings barrel 

Fire-wood cords 

Coal 2,000 

Coats,  over 

Coats,  under 

Pants 

Vests 

Shirts,  flannel 

Shirts,  cotton 

Shirts,  under 

Drawers,  woolen 

Hats,  felt 

Socks,  worsted 

Socks,  cotton  

Blankets pair 

Flannel yard 

Cotton  shirtings do.. 

Cotton  sheetings,  wide 

Canadian  Tweed  cloth 

Shoes,  men's per  pair 

Shoes,  women's ...  do 

Boots,  men's  do. . 

Boots,  women's do  . 

Rubbers,  men's 

Rubbers,  women's 


Cost. 


$0  60  to 

5  50  to 
4  50  to 

6  uOto 

7  00  to 
4  50  to 

2  00  to 
1  00  to 

1  50  to 
75  to 
25  to 
90  to 
75  to 
25  to 
10  to 

3  00  to 
30  to 
10  to 
20  to 
60  to 

2  00  to 

1  25  to 

2  00  to 
1  75  to 

80  to 
70  to 


$0  65 

7  00 

7  00 

6  50 

12  00 

6  50 

4  50 

2  00 

2  00 

1  00 

35 

1  00 

1  25 

35 

15 

4  50 

35 

12 

25 

1  00 

2  50 
1  75 
4  00 

3  00 
1  00 

80 


Those  who  have  families  and  keep  house,  rent  dwellings  with  four 
room  for  $8  per  month  ;  with  six  rooms,  from  $9  to  $12  per  month. 
Board  may  be  obtained  for  $4  per  week. 


WAGES  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 

As  between  the  rates  of  wages  now  and  those  which  ])revailed  in 
1878  and  since  that  time  the  present  rates  are  somewhat  higher  than 
in  1878.  After  the  depression  of  1878  business  steadily  imi)roved  until 
1883,  when  it  began  to  decline  and  has  so  continued  until  the  present 
time,  producing  great  depression  in  manufactures  generally.  The  price 
of  labor,  however,  does  not  seem  to  decline  materially  in  consequence. 
The  employers  have  retained  their  best  men  as  a  general  rule,  expecting 


22  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

an  increase  of  business  in  the  early  autumn,  while  the  discharged  em- 
ployes have  found  temporarj"  employment  on  the  land  and  are  stimu- 
lated by  the  hope,  which  is  very  strong,  that  business  will  soon  revive. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  habits  of  the  working  classes  are  generally  to  be  commended. 
Many  of  them  are  steady  and  trustworthy,  saving  something  for  sickness 
and  old  age.  The  causes  which  afl'ect  their  habits  for  good  or  evil  are 
various.  On  the  one  hand  are  strong  religious  influences,  excellent  public 
schools,  an  active,  earnest  feeling  in  favor  of  temperance  and  good  con- 
duct; while  on  the  other  hand  is  much  vice,  much  licentiousness,  many 
dram-shops  and  gaming-places. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  which  prevails  between  the  employer  and  employe  is  gen- 
erally kindly.  The  Canadian  law  authorizes  the  arrest  and  imprison- 
ment of  indentured  apprentices  for  absence  without  leave.  Public 
sentiment,  however,  is  generally  opposed  to  its  enforcement,  and  it  is 
seldom  resorted  to  for  punishment.  The  effect  of  this  feeling  on  the 
general  and  j)articular  community  is  good. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS. 

In  this  district  until  last  year  there  was  no  organized  condition  of 
labor.  Then  for  the  tirst  time  laboring  men  of  every  class,  numbering 
about  two  thousiind,  marched  in  procession  through  the  streets  of  tlam- 
ilton  to  Duiidwin  I'ark,  where  they  passed  a  day  of  enjoyment,  listened 
in  the  evening  to  an  address  on  "the  dignity  of  labor,"  and  returned  to 
their  duties  on  the  d;iy  following.  This  year  the  same  programme  has 
been  repeated  without  increase  of  numbers.  I  cannot  learn  that  this 
organization  has  attempted  to  change  the  status  of  anything.  Persons 
are  employed  and  discharged  without  reference  to  other  employes. 

STRIKES   AND   FOOD   PURCHASES   AND    COOPERATION. 

Strikes  have  never  occurred  in  this  consular  district. 

Working  people  are  free  to  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life  wherever 
they  choose.  No  conditions  in  this  regard  are  imposed  by  the  emyloy- 
ers.  Wages  are  paid  weekly  or  monthly  to  the  laborer  in  Canadian 
currency.     There  are  no  co-operative  societies  here. 

GENARAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  general  condition  of  the  working  people  here  is  comfortable. 
The  cities  and  large  manufacturing  villages  in  this  district  afford  a  sub- 
stantial market  for  the  produce  of  the  farms,  and  give  employment  to 
a  great  variety  of  laborers  at  rates  of  wages  which  enables  them  to  pro- 
vide comfortable  homes  with  good  food  and  clothing  for  themselves  and 
families,  and  to  save  something  for  sickness  and  old  age. 

SAFETY   OF   EMPL0Y:6S. 

iSTo  meiins  are  i)rovi(lcd  for  the  safety  of  employes  in  factories,  mills, 
or  railroads,  »S:c.,  in  case  of  accident,  excepting  the  ordinary  stairways, 
doors,  and  windows.  In  case  of  accident,  h<)si)itals  and  other  suitable 
l^laces  are  provided  where  the  injured  may  be  taken  and  cared  for. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA.  23" 

I  am  unable  to  learn  that  the  einploj'er  ^ives  es])ecial  consideration 
to  the  moral  and  physical  well-being  of  the  employes,  the  ability  to 
perform  acceptably  the  duties  required  of  the  employe  beinj?  generally 
satisfactori'  to  the  emi^loyer.     Their  general  relations  are  not  intimate. 

POLITICAL   EIGHTS. 

Political  rights  in  this  country  are  enjoyed  principally  through  i)rop- 
erty,  so  that  the  workingman  rarely  has  anything  to  do  with  politics. 

CAUSES  OF  EMIGRATION. 

The  causes  which  lead  to  the  emigration  of  the  working  people  are 
various,  the  desire  to  better  their  condition  being  the  principal.  Farm- 
ers knon-  that  hind  is  cheaper  in  certain  parts  of  the  United  States  than 
here.  Mechanics  also  realize  that  every  class  of  labor  is  demanded  in 
the  United  States,  and  when  overcrowded  here  emigrate  with  full  con- 
fidence as  to  the  result. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

I  am  unable,  because  T  can  find  no  statistics,  to  give  a  satisfactory 
statement  showing  the  number  or  approximate  number  of  women  and 
children  em])loyed  in  my  district.  In  the  cities  they  are  employed  in 
considerable  numbers  as  saleswomen  in  dry-good  stores  at  wages  rang- 
ing from  84  to  $6  a  week.  Many  find  employment  in  making  clothing 
of  all  kinds  by  the  jjiece  for  ready-made  clothing  houses,  taking  the  cut 
garments  to  their  homes,  where,  with  the  sewing-n\a(;hines,  they  earn 
from  -$6  to  $10  a  week.  The  tobacco  paper  bag,  and  cotton  factcnnes  of 
the  district  also  afford  employment  to  a  large  number  at  from  $4  to  $6 
a  week. 

In  the  Hamilton  public  schools  one  hundred  female  teachers  are  em- 
l^loyed  at  salaries  running  from  $188  to  $435  a  year,  and  forty  at  sala- 
ries running  from  $75  to  $133  a  year. 

The  employment  of  women  has  no  percei>tible  effect  upou  the  wages 
of  men.  Its  effect  on  general  social  and  industrial  conditions  is  bene- 
ficial. 

J.  F.  HAZLETON, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Hamilton,  August  4,  1884. 


24 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  2^ did  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Hamilton. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons    

Tenders 

Plasteiera 

Tenders 

Slaters  

Koofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

I  f..  Assistants 

Carpenters 

Gas-fitters 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookbinders 

Brickmakers 

Brewers 

Butcheis 

Brass  founders 

Cabiuet-maker.s 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

IDrivers : 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab,  carriage 

Street  railways 

Dyers 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Millwrights 

Printers _ 

Teachers,  public  schools ". 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sailmakers 

Stevedores 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

"Weavers  (outside  of  mills) 


Lowest. 


$15  00 
6  00 

15  00 
6  00 
9  00 
6  00 

15  00 
9  00 
6  00 
9  00 
6  (lO 

10  50 
9  00 


7  50 
9  00 

6  00 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 

7  50 
10  50 

9  00 
7  50 
6  00 
9  00 

6  00 

6  00 

*7  50 

4  60 

6  00 

7  50 
10  50 

7  50 
1  00 

12  00 

10  00 

t75  00 

8  00 

8  00 

9  00 

8  00 

9  00 
9  00 
8  00 
3  00 


Highest. 


$16  50 

7  50 
16  50 

7  50 
12  00 

7  50 
16  50 
12  00 

7  50 
12  00 

7  50 
12  00 
15  00 


10  50 
15  00 

7  50 
15  00 
12  00 
15  00 

9  00 
15  00 
15  00 

9  00 

9  00 
10  50 

9  00 

9  00 

7  50 

15  00 

9  00 

10  50 

18  00 

10  50 

1  25 

15  00 

10  00 

1833  36 

12  00 

12  00 

13  .50 
12  00 
12  00 
15  00 
12  00 

7  50 


Average. 


$15  50 

7  00 

15  50 

7  00 

10  00 

7  00 

15  50 

10  50 

■  7  00 

10  50 
7  00 

11  00 

12  00 


9  00 
10  50. 

7  00 
12  00 
10  00 
10  50 

8  00 
12  00 
10  50 

8  00 
7  50 

9  50 

7  50 
7  50 
7  50 

6  75 

7  50 

8  00 

12  00 

9  00 
1  10 

13  50 
10  00 

f303  58 
10  00 

10  00 

11  00 
10  00 
10  50 

12  00 
10  00 

6  00 


*  Of  84  hours. 


t  Per  year. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

II.  Factoeies,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Hamilton,  Canada. 


25 


Occapations. 


Lowest. 


Average. 


Card  room  : 

OveTseers  . 

Cardt-rs  . . . 

Scntcbers  . 

Drawers... 

Slubbers  .. 

Rovers 

Throstle  room : 

Overseers  . 

Dolpbers. . 

Spjuuers  . 
Killing  room : 

Overseers  . 

Packers 

Dressers    . 

"Winders.  . 

Eeelers 

Doublers. .. 

Spoolers... 

Warpers.  . 

Twisters.  . 
"Weaviiiii  room: 

Overseers  . 

Weavers  . . 
Mule  room : 

Overseers  . 

Spinners... 

Warcrormr 

Dj'e  bouse 

Mecbanics 

Laborers  . . 

Firemen... 

Engineers.. 


4  80 

1  25 

2  75 


5  40 

3  00 

2  00 
«  00 

4  50 
4  50 

6  00 
4  00 

6  00 

7  50 


12  00 
6  00 
5  70 

4  20 

4  80 

5  00 

8  00 

1  50 
3  60 

5  00 
3  25 

8  75 

3  75 
5  00 

4  50 

2  75 

4  75 

5  50 

9  50 

4  75 

4  50 
10  75 

5  00 

6  75 
12  00 

5  00 

7  50 
10  50 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Hamil- 
ton, Canada. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$10  50 

10  50 
7  50 
7  50 
7  50 
9  00 

12  00 
9  00 
4  50 
6  75 

12  00 

12  00 

9  00 

6  40 

7  50 

11  25 

6  00 
9  00 

7  50 
9  00 

10  50 

10  50 

7  50 

7  50 

16  5o' 

16  50 
14  00 

14  00 

17  50 

12  00 

13  50 
11  25 

9  00 
7  50 

24  00 

15  00 
20  40 

18  00 
9  00 

11  25 
9  00 

18  00 

14  22 

19  50 

15  00 

12  00 
14  00 

13  50 

12  00 

Pattern-fitters •. 

12  00 

9  00 

8  25 

9  00 

10  50 

12  00 

10  50 

6  00 

7  20 

Sewing-machines: 

17  22 

13  32 

Fitters    

34  58 

11  40 

1  37 

11  25 

7  50 

12  00 

9  72 

10  74 

12  96 

11  00 

9  00 

9  00 

26  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

IV.  Glass  workers. 

Wages  jjaid  per  week  of  forty-two  hours  to  glass-workers  in  Hamilton,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Blowers 

Laborers  (boys) 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$11 
3 

$35 
5 

VI.  Railway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  envploy^s  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
ihe  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  4'C.),  in  Hamilton,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Cond uctors per  day . 

Brakemen do . . . 

Bajrjriigi'iiien,  train do. .. 

Baygrigeiiiuu,  station do  .. 

Enuint-ers  ...' do... 

Firemen do... 

Engine  cleaners do. .. 

Switchmen do. .. 

Yardmen do... 

Trackmen - do. .. 

Portcr.s do . . . 

Section  foremen do  . . 

Track  foremen per  year. 

Train  dispatchers do. .. 

Station  agents do... 

Clerks do... 

Telegraph  operators do . . 


Lowest. 


$2  00 
1  30 
1  40 

1  15 

2  75 
1  CO 
1  00 
1  15 
1  60 
1  10 
1  00 
1  50 

900  00 
600  00 
420  00 
300  00 
360  00 


Highest.  Average. 


$2  50 
1  60 
1  60 
1  50 
3  00 
1  80 
1  00 

1  60 

2  25 
1  10 
1  25 
1  50 

1.  000  00 
1,  260  00 
1,  000  00 
1,  (100  00 
600  00 


$2  25 
1  40 
1  50 

1  25 

2  87i 
1  70 
1  00 
1  40 
1  75 
1  10 
1  10 
1  50 

850  00 
1,  000  00 
600  00 
600  00 
480  00 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  dry  goods  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and 
females,  in  Hamilton,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Clerks 

Dress-making 

Maritlemaking 

Shiit-making 

Quilt-niaking 

Tinderclothing  making 


Highest. 


$20  00 
8  00 
8  00 
8  00 
8  00 
8  00 


Average. 


$7  00 
5  00 
5  00 
5  00 
5  00 
5  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Hamilton  consular 

district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$9  00 
7  00 

7  00 

8  00 
7  00 

$12  00 
8  00 

8  00 

9  00 
9  00 

$10  50 

7  50 

7  50 

8  50 

8  00 

LABOR  IN  NORLH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


27 


XI.   AGRICULTUKAX   WAGES. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Hamilton 
consular  district,  tvith  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$12 

25 

6 

$15 
35 
10 

XII.  Corporation  employdSs. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Hamilton,  Canada. 


Occnpations. 


Fire  department per  annum.. 

Police  nia<;istrate do 

Chief  of  police do 

Policemen  (54) do  .. 

Teacliers,  hijih  school  (17) do 

Teacliera,  public  schools  (112) do 

Cierk,  public  schools do 

Treasurer,  public  schools do ... . 

Mayor do 

City  clerk do 

Assistant  clerk do 

Do do... 

City  treasurer do 

Do do.... 

Assistant  treasurer do 

Tax  collector do 

Assistant  collector do  .. . 

Do ; do  . . 

Do do  .- 

City  messenger do 

City  eniiinper do 

Street  laborers per  day.. 

Street  inspector per  annum . . 

Superintendent  cemetery do. .. 

Pound-keeper '. do 

Superintendent  house  of  refuge do 

Superintendent  wood  mai  ket do 


Lowest.     Highest. 


Average. 


$122  10 

2,  000  00 

1,  200  00 

91  24 

60  00 

75  00 

300  00 

300  00 


$1,  000  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  200  OU 

723  00 

1,433  00 

833  36 

300  00 

300  00 


$433  00 

2, 1)00  00 

1,  2U0  00 

460  00 

702  00 

303  58 

300  00 

300  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  800  00 

500  00 

100  00 

1, 100  OO 

437  00 

413  00 

1,  100  00 

600  00 

550  00 

500  00 

600  00 

650  00 

1  25 

624  00 

713  00 

256  00 

350  00 

600  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  to  enxployes  in  Government  departments  and  offices — exclusive  of 
tradesmen  and  laborers — in  Hamilton,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.   Average. 


Collector  of  customs 

Surveyor  of  cu.storas 

Clerks,  customs  (7) 

Appraisers,  cu.stonis 

Lauding  waiters  (5) 

Searcher  and  packer 

Messenger 

Packer 

Inspectors , 

Gangers 

Lockers 

Inland  revenue  : 

Chief  inspector 

Inspector  of  distilleries. 

District  inspectors 

Collectors 

Clerks  (accountants)  ... 
Post-oflice : 

Postmaster. 

Assistant  postmaster. . . 

Clerks  ia  city  post-otfice 


$2,  600 

1,500 

600 

1,000 

600 

600 

450 

550 

1,600 

GOO 

400 

3,000 

2,  5(10 

2,000 

500 

600 

2,400 

1,500 

400 


$2,  600 
1,  500 
1,400 

1,  200 
850 
600 
4.50 
550 

2,000 
1,200 
1,200 

3,000 

2,  .=iOO 
2,500 
2,200 
1,200 

2,400 
1,  500 
1,400 


$2,  600 
1,  .500 
943 
1,  100 
683 
600 
4.i0 
550 

1,  800 
900 
800 

3,000 

2,  500 
2,250 
1.350 


2,400 
1,500 


28 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  slioiving  the  wages  paid  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen,  proof-readers,  ^-c.)  in 

Hamilton,  Canada. 

[Per  week  of  sixty  houra.] 


Occupations. 


Compositors: 

Evening  papers per  M.. 

Morning  papers do... 

Weekly  papers per  week.. 

All  weekly  employ6s do 


Lowest. 


$0  28 

30 

10  00 

10  00 


Highest. 


$0  28 

30 

10  00 

10  00 


$0  28 

30 

10  00 

IG  00 


KINGSTON. 


REPORT  BT  CONSUL  TWIWHELL. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest 

Average. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

$12  00 
7  50 

12  00 
7  50 

12  00 
7  50 

12  00 
7  50 
7  50 
9  00 

6  00 

7  50 
9  00 

8  00 
7  50 
4  50 
7  00 

11  00 
6  25 

6  00 
10  00 

7  50 
7  50 

10  00 

6  00 
10  00 

7  50 

6  00 
■   9  00 

7  00 

9  00 

6  00 
10  00 

7  50 
2  50 
7  50 
9  00 

$16  50 

7  50 
16  50 

7  50 
16  50 

7  50 
15,00 
12  00 

7  50 
15  00 

6  00 
12  00 
15  00 

12  00 

10  50 

6  00 
12  00 

11  00 

7  50 
15  00 
18  00 

8  75 

8  75 
10  00 

9  00 
10  00 
10  50 

7  50 

15  00 

9  00 

12  00 
15  00 

13  00 
15  00 

2  50 
12  00 
12  00 

$14  40 
7  50 

14  40 

7  50 

14  40 

Tenders  

7  50 
13  50 

9  60 

7  50 

10  50 

6  00 

9  60 

10  50 

OTHER  TRADES. 

10  00 

9  00 

5  10 

9  00 

11  00 

7  00 

9  00 

14  00 

8  10 

8  10 

10  00 

7  50 

Hatters     

10  00 

9  00 

6  50 

12  00 

8  00 

10  50 

8  50 

Tailors 

11  50 

11  25 

2  50 

Tinsmiths 

9  60 

Painters    ! 

10  50 

1  25 

*1,  300  00 

Cigar-makers per  thousand .  - 

6  00 

6  00 

10  00 

10  00 

6  00 

15  00 

7  00 
6  00 

13  00 

Raftsmenll     .          

6  50 

8  00 

7  25 

*  Per  annum  ;  no  fixed  hours 
t78  hours  per  week. 


t78  hours  per  week. 

1 54  hours  per  week. 

§  20  cents  per  hour  ;  25  cents  per  thousand  bushels  grain  ;  10 

II  8  months  in  year.' 


cents  per  ton  of  coal  or  i 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Kingston,  Canada. 


29 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Cotton  factory : 

Mule  spiunera % 

$9  00 
1  50 
1  80 
6  00 
1  80 

5  40 
3  00 

6  00 

$12  00 
4  80 
4  50 
7  50 
4  20 
7  50 
6  00 
6  00 

$11  10 

2  40 

3  00 
6  60 

3  00 
6  60 

4  50 
6  00 

08 

Four-loom  weavers 

Kovei's do  . . 

06 

i5- 

07 

07 

Knittiiij:  mill  * : 

15  00 
6  00 

4  -.0 
3  00 
3  00 

5  00 
2  00 

15  00 
0  00 
4  50 
3  00 
3  00 

12  00 
10  50 

15  00 

6  00 

4  50 

3  00 

3  00 
8  00 

6  00 

*  Wagps  same  as  in  1878. 
i  Pianos  made  by  piece-work. 


Piano-makers  average  about  $4  per  day.    "Wages  higher  than  1878. 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  car  works,  and  iron  works  in  Kingston,  Canada. 

[Per  week  of  sixty  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Average. 


Stove  foundries  * : 

Molders    per  week.. 

Stove  molders do 

Laborer.^ do  ... 

CaippDters do 

Blacksmiths do 

Car  works  t : 

Blacksmiths do 

Molders do  ... 

Carpenters do 

Laborers do 

Painters do 

Foremen do 

Machine-shops: 

Machinists      do 

Locomotive  works  { : 

Fitters per  day. . 

Boiler-mak^s do 

Blarksraiths do 

Molders  do 

Laborers do 

Carpenters do 

Apprentices do 

•    Turner.s  do 

Erecters do 

Planers  or  drillers do 

Pattern  makers do.... 


*  Wages  higher  than  1878. 

tCar  works  not  built  in  1878. 

I  Wages  lower  than  the  above  by  25  per  cent,  in  187f 


$9  00 

7  50 
6  00 

8  40 
10  50 

10  50 

9  00 
8  40 

6  60 

7  80 
12  00 

10  50 


$12  00 

10  50 
7  50 

11  40 

10  50 

11  40 

12  00 

11  40 
9  ro 

10  20 
16  50 

12  00 


$11  10 
9  00 

6  80 
9  90 

10  50 

10  80 
10  50 
9  90 

7  80 
9  00 

14  40 

n  25 


2  00 

2  50 

2  25 

2  00 

2  50 

2  25 

2  00 

2  50 

2  25 

2  00 

2  25 

2  00 

1  00 

1  50 

1  25 

2  00 

2  25 

2  00 

30 

80 

60 

1  85 

2  25 

2  00 

2  00 

2  50 

2  25 

1  50 

2  00 

1  75 

2  00 

2  50 

2  25 

30 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 


Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  and  i7i  connection  with  iron  mines  in  consular  dis- 
trict of  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$37  50 

10  50 

12  00 

7  50 

$37  50 

10  50 

12  00 

7  50 

Average. 


Superintendent ^■ 

Drillers ■ 

Engineers 

Laborers 


$37  50 
10  50 
12  00 
7  20 


VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  tveek  to  railway  employes  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  tj'c),  in  Kingston,Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$6  75 

$6  75 

6  75 

8  45 

6  75 

6  75 

11  80 

16  90 

9  45 

9  45 

8  10 

8  10 

5  60 

8  45 

10  15 

13  50 

Average. 


Station  hands 

Line  men 

Laborers 

Engineers. . .. 

Firemen 

Brakemen 

Clerks 

Conductors* . . 


$6  75 

7  45 

6  75 
14  35 

9  45 

8  10 

7  00 
11  80 


'  120  miles  per  day. 


VII.  Ship- YARDS  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  ship-yards,  in  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Building  wooden  ships: 

$15  00 
9  00 
9  00 
8  40 
10  50 
7  50 
6  90 

$15  00 
10  50 
9  00 
10  20 
10  50 
7  50 
6  90 

$15  00 

9  75 

9  00 

9  30 

10  50 

7  50 

6  90 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 


31 


Wages  paid  to  seamen,  {officers  and  men)— distinguishing  between  ocean,  coast,  and  river 
navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam — in  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest 


Average. 


SAIL. 

Lake  and  river  navigation : 

Captain per  month . . 

Cook do 

First  mate per  day.. 

Second  mate do 

Able  seamen do 

Ordinary  seamen do 

STEAM. 

Captain per  month.. 

Purser  or  clerk do 

Steward  do 

First  mate do 

Second  mate do 

Engineer do 

Assistant  engineer .do... 

Firemen do 

Deck-hands do 

Cook do 

Waiters do 


$40  00 
20  00 
1  75 
1  50 
1  25 
1  00 


40  00 
30  00 
30  00 
30  00 
25  00 
50  00 
40  00 
15  00 
14  00 
20  00 
10  00 


$80  00 
30  00 
2  00 
1  75 
1  50 
1  25 


80  00 
50  00 
50  00 
50  00 
35  00 
75  00 
50  00 
30  00 
20  00 
30  00 
10  00 


$60  00 
25  00 
1  85 
1  65 
1  35 
1  15 


60  00 
40  00 
40  00 
40  00 
30  00 
62  50 
45  00 
22  50 
17  00 
25  00 
10  00 


Seaman's  Union  organized  in  1879,  since  which  time  wages  have  averaged  as  above. 
Able  seamen  in  1879,  $25  per  month. 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in  Kingston,  Canada. 
[Per  week  of  fifty -seven  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.   Average, 


Wliolesale  clerks  (male) per  annum.. 

Retail  ch-rks  (male) do. .. 

Retail  clerks  (female) per  week.. 


$1,000  00   $1,800  00     $1,200  00 
300  00         600  00  450  00 

6  00  14  00  10  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Cooks $10  00 

Housemaids) I  5  00 

Coachmen 20  00 


Highest. :  Average. 


$35  00 
10  00 
30  00 


$15  00 

8  00 

25  00 


"Wages  higher  than  in  1878. 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 


Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Kingston,  Canada, 

ioith  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

per  annum.. 

$120  00 

60  00 

*90  00 

tl  25 

$156  00 
72  00 

*!08  00 
tl  75 

$138  00 

Household  servants 

do 

66  00 
*99  00 

nerdav.. 

tl  50 

'  For  best  six  months  in  the  year. 


t  Harvesting  season. 


32  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  jyciid  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Higheet. 


Average. 


Mayor per  annum. 

Treasurer do.. 

City  clerk do... 

Collector   do . . . 

Assessor do — 

Messenger do. .. 

Solicitor do... 

Engineer    do . . . 

Chief  engineer  fire  department do. . . 

Assistant  engineer  fire  department do. .. 

Police  niatristrate do. . . 

Chief  of  police do. .- 

Sergeant  of  police per  month. 

First  class  policeman  do . . . 

Second  class  policeman do  .. 

Clerks per  annum. 

City  laborers per  day. 


$100  00 


$400  00 


$800  00 

1,  100  00 

1,400  00 

1,  IttO  00 

800  00 

450  00 

700  00 

700  00 

200  00 

175  00 

1,400  00 

800  00 

*42  50 

MO  00 

*35  00 

300  00 

1  00 


*In  addition  allowed  $45  per  annum  for  clothing. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  to  employ^  in  Go"ern7nent  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of 
tradesmen  and  laborers,  in  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Collector  of  customs 

Surveyor    . .   

Chief  clerk  and  deputy  collector . 

Clerks 

Appraiser 

Landing  waiters    

Preventive  officers 

Collector  of  inland  revenue 

Excisemen 

Warden,  penitentiary 

Deputy  warden,  penitentiary 

Chaplain 

Surgeon 

Accountant 

Storekeeper  

Schoolmaster  

Steward 

Trade  instructors 

Keepers 

Guards 

Teamsters 

Matrnns      

Postmaster 

Assistant  postmaster 

Clerks 

Letter.carriers . . . .- 


$550  00 


$800  00 


150  00 
235  00 


450  00 

i,'o66  66 


400  00 
500  00 


1,  000  00 
700  00 


250  00 


500  00 


400  00  1,  200  00 
300  00    480  00 


$1,  600  00 
1, 100  00 
1,  000  00 
650  00 
900  00 
600  I  0 
300  00 

1,  400  00 
600  00 

2,  600  00 
1,  400  00 
1,  200  00 
1,  800  00 
1,000  00 

900  00 
600  00 
650  00 
700  00 
600  00 
450  00 
350  00 
375  00 
1,  800  00 
1,  400  00 
800  00 
390  00 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  shoiving  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  ^c. )  in  Kingston,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Compositors 
Pressmen  ... 
Reporters  - . 
Apprentices 


Lowest. 


$8  00 
8  00 

10  00 
1  00 


Highest. 


$12  00 

12  00 

16  00 

3  00 


Average. 


$10  00 

10  00 

13  00 

2  00 


LABOR  IX  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


33 


COST    OF   LIVING. 

Cost  of  living  to  the  lahoring  classes,  the  prices  paid  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  clothing, 

rent,  Jtc.  in  Kingston. 


Articles. 


Rent  of  qiiaitevs  for  laborer,  coiifisting 
of  fiom  3  to  5  rooms  ...       per  siunutu . . 

Flour per  100  poumlp.. 

Oatiiie^il  do  ... 

Corn  meal do 

Buckwheat do   . . 

Beef do.... 

Mutton  do 

Pork  (fresh) do 

Pork  (salt) pcrponud.. 

Bacon do  ... 

Veal  do.... 

Butter do 


Articles. 


Pot->toes ■ per  bushel. . 

Apples do 

Turnips do 

Carrots do 

Beets do 

Onions do  ... 

Coal per  ton . . 

Wood  (hard) per  cord. . 

Tui  keys 

Geese 

Ducks 

Chickens 


Cost. 


60 

1  70 

40 

38 

38 

65 

7-00 

5  25 

1  75 

1  00 

75 

60 

WAGES,   PAST  AND   PRESENT. 

Since  1878  cost  of  living  sliows  ;i  material  enlargement ;  price  of  labor 
advancing  in  a  slightly  increased  proportion,  with  the  following  excep- 
tions: Sail  making  and  shipbuilding,  on  account  of  competition  from 
the  railroads  in  the  carrying  trade,  has  been  steadily  declining. 

HABITS   OF   THE  WORKING-CLASSES. 

The  working-classes  are  steady  and  trustworthy  ;  20  per  cent,  are  es- 
timated as  having  dei)osits  in  some  savings  institution,  making  pay- 
ments ui)on  homes,  or  in  other  ways  saving  money ;  intemperance  seems 
to  be  the  only  prominent  cause  of  evil  and  suffering  among  them. 

FEELING  BETWEEN   EMPLOYER   AND   EMPLOYiE. 

There  is  the  best  of  feeling  between  the  employer  and  employe. 

ORGANIZATION   OF  LABOR. 

Islo  organization  of  labor  with  the  exception  of  the  sailors'  union.  I 
am  of  the  opinion  that  the  union  advantageously  effects  the  condition 
of  the  seamen  ;  at  all  events  it  relieves  the  consulate  of  much  trouble 
and  the  Government  of  considerable  expense. 

STRIKES. 

Strikes  are  very  unusual  and  quite  limited  in  their  effects.  There  is  no 
special  system  of  dealing  with  disagreements  between  capital  and  labor. 

FOOD  PURCHASES. 


No  restraints  upon  the  employ6  by  his  employer  in  reference  to  pur- 
chases. Tlie  laborer  is  paid  in  Canadian  currency  weekly,  semi-monthly, 
and  monthly. 

COOPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

I  think  there  are  no  co-operative  societies  in  the  district. 
92  A— 2  LAB 3 


34  LABOR    IX    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

GENERAL   CONDITION    OF   THE   WORKING-CLASSES. 

The  condition  and  surroundings  of  the  working-people  are  good ;  they 
are  well  clothed,  well  housed,  and  well  fed.  Their  opiDortunity  for  sav- 
ing is  much  better  than  their  inclination.  In  seeking  an  answer  to  No. 
4,1,  in  common  with  prominent  citizens  of  the  district,  am  surprised  at 
the  small  number  of  laborers  who  are  saving  money.  I  have  been  un- 
able to  find  any  laborer  who  keeps  an  account  of  his  expenses. 

SAFETY   OF   EMPLOYES. 

The  safety  of  emploj'es  is  carefully  guarded. 

rOLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

All  citizens  assessed  on  $400  in  the  city  or  $200  in  the  country,  and  pay- 
ing taxes  thereon,  without  regard  to  the  ownership  of  the  property,  are 
voters.  The  right  of  suifrage  gives  him  a  much  better  position  as  a 
laborer,  securing  for  him  better  treatment  and  more  steady  emiiloj'ment. 
The  tendency  of  legislation  is  towards  sufirage  without  property  or 
qualification. 

EMIGRATION. 

The  general  prosperity  of  their  friends  and  relations  living  in  the 
United  States;  the  ease  with  which  good  homes  on  fertile  lands  may 
be  procured;  the  policy  of  our  Government  in  encouraging  the  laborer 
in  owning  his  land;  with  the  feeling  that  in  the  United  States  all  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  profit  are  open  to  him  and  his  children  without  regard 
to  nationality,  birth,  or  religion.  Canadian  emigrants  proper  are  mostly 
agriculturists.  There  is  quite  an  emigration,  of  which  but  little  is  known, 
taking  advantage  of  the  facilities  given  emigrants  to  Canada  from  Great 
Britain,  who  stop  here  a  few  months  on  their  way  to  the  United  States. 

M.  H.  TWITCHELL, 

Consul . 
United  States  Consulate, 

Kingston,  Canada,  May  21,  1S84. 


OTTAWA. 

IlErORT  BY  COMMERCIAL  AGENT  ROBBIKS. 
THE   DOMINION   GOVERNMENT. 

The  executive  authority  of  the  Government  of  Canada  is  vested  in 
the  sovereign  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  carried  on  in  her  name 
by  a  governor-general  and  privy  couTicil.  The  legislative  power  is  ex- 
ercised by  a  Parliament  composed  of  two  houses,  viz,  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Commons.  The  Senate  consists  of  77  members  who  are  rec- 
ommended by  the  privy  council  and  confirmed  hy  the  governor  general 
as  representative  of  the  Crown,  and  are  appointed  for  life.  The  House 
of  Commons  is  composed  of  21.J  members  elected  by  ballot,  and  for  the 
term  of  5  years. 

The  salary  of  the  governor-general  is  $48,GGG.6G  per  annum,  and  i)aid 
by  Canada.  The  \y<\y  of  the  members  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Com- 
mons is  $10  per  day  up  to  the  end  of  30  days,  and  if  the  session  is 
longer,  the  sum  of  $1,000,  with  traveling  expenses  of  10  cents  per  mile. 
Eight  dollars  per  d;iy  is  deducted  for  every  day's  absence  unless  the 
same  is  caused  by  sickness. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


35 


OFFICIAL   SALARIES. 

The  privy  council  cousists  of  a  premier,  whose  salary  is  $8,000  per 
anuuni,  and  twelve  members,  who  are  also  heads  of  departments,  at  a 
salary  of  $7,000  each  per  annum. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.  I  Highest. 


Oommitsioners,  deputy  heads,  secretaries,  <£c. 

1  High  comniiasinnor  to  Ensrland per  aiinnm. 

1  Deputy  lu'.id  se^ietaiy  of  treasury  board do... 

1  Deputy  liead  of  railway.s  and  canals .•...do... 

1  Auditnr-ffpnoral   do 

9  Deputy  heads  and  secretaries  (each) do . . . 

1  Assistant  auditor do... 

1  Commissioner  of  inland  revenue do. .. 

1  Assistant  of  inland  revenue do. .. 

1  Commissioner  of  customs do. .. 

1  En<:ineer  of  canals do. .. 

1  Engineer  of  railways do. .. 

1  Engineer  of  public  works do. .. 

1  Architect do. .. 


$10,  000  00 


Dei>art)nent  clerkti. 

Chief  clerks per  ann urn. .  $1,  800  00   .$2,  800  00 

First-class  clerks do....i  1,200  00     1,800  00 

Senior  second-class  clerks do 1,100  00     1,450  00 

Junior  second  class  clerks do '      700  00  ;  1,000  00 

Third-cla.s8 clerks do....       400  00        050  00 

Messengers. 
Messengers per  annum . . '      300  00         500  00 

Laborers. 

(Jardeners per  week..  7  50  8  40 

Laborers do i  6  00  I         7  25 


Average. 


200  00 
100  00 
200  00 


3,  200  00 

2,  450  00 
.'{,  200  00 
2,400  00 
3, 200  00 

4,  500  00 
4,  000  00 

3,  000  00 
3,  000  00 


.$2, 175  0» 

1,  593  00 

1,  271  00 

884  00 

530  00 


449  00 


8  10 
6  75- 


CORPORATION  EMPLOYES. 
Official  salaries  paid  hy  the  city  of  Ottawa. 


Occupations. 


Police  magistrate per  annum 

Police  clerk do.. 

Chief do.. 

Sergeants do  . 

Policemen per  month. 

FIKK  UEP.VKTMKNT. 

Chief per  annum 

Deputy  chief do  . 

1  foreman per  month 

2  foremen do . . 

CITY  CI.EUK'h  office. 

Cily  clerk per  annum. 

Deputy do. . 

Clerk.' do.. 

Messenger do.. 

CITY  TEKASUKEU'S  OFFICE. 

City  treasurer per  annum. 

Accountant do... 

Bailiff do  . 

CITY  ENGINEEU'S  OFFICE. 

City  engineer per  annum. 

Street  foreman do... 

Clerk , do... 


Average 
wages. 

$1,600  00 

640  00 

1,  200  00 

*720  00 

*45  00 

1,  240  00 

720  00 

45  00 

40  00 

• 

1,  700  00 

1,200  00 

560  00 

200  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  500  00 

000  00 

Occupations. 


Average 
wages. 


-iSSESSMEXT  OFFICE. 

1 

Commissioner per  annum..  $1,400  00 

Assessors do 400  00 

A.ssistants do 180  00 

Clerk do....  650  00 


Inspector  and  constable . .  per  annum . 

HOARD  OF  HEALTH. 

Medical  officer per  annum..        1,000  00 

Inspectors do 420  00 

LAHOItKKS. 

Laborers  on  streets per  day..!  1  25 

Coal-weighers jier  month . .  |  25  00 

rUKLIC  SCHOOLS. 


2  teachers  (male) per  annum..!  1,000  00 

1  teacher  (male) do....  85(i  00 

4  teachers  (male) do....|  750  00 

2  teachers  (male) do :  650  00 

2  teachers  (male) do....,  600  00 

1  teacher  (male) do 450  00 

1  teacher  (female) do 450  00 

2,000  00  ii  9  teachers  (female) do....  400  00 

840  00   j  6  teachers  (female) do 350  00 

660  00  i: 


*  With  uniform. 


36 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


CONDITION   OF   LABORlNGr   PEOPLE   IN   OTTAWA. 

The  condition  of  tlie  laboring  people  in  Ottawa  has  improved  since 
1878,  as  I  am  advised,  and  especially  within  the  last  three  years,  so  that 
at  present  all  kinds  of  labor  are  in  good  demand  at  fair  wages.  The 
habits  of  the  working-people  are,  as  a  rule,  good — the  resnlt  of  religious 
influences,  good  schools,  and  steady  employment.  There  exists  a  kindly 
feeling  between  the  employers  and  employed,  and  no  organized  bodies 
of  workingmeu  exist,  except  among  printers  and  telegraphers.  Strikes 
are  not  prevalent.  !N"o  restrictions  are  placed  to  prevent  laborers  frora 
purchasing  goods  in  the  cheapest  market,  lients  are  moderate.  The 
emigrants  from  this  section  are  mostly  ;^oung  men  who  hope  to  better 
their  condition,  and  enterprising  farmers  of  limited  meansj  most  of  the 
latter  go  to  the  Western  States  and  largely  to  Dakota. 

FOOD   AND   RAIMENT. 

L'lbt  of  retail  x)'>'ices  of  the  ordinary  articles  of  food  and  raiment  required  hy  the  xvorking- 
classes  in  Ottawa,  April  8,  ldb4. 


Articles. 


PROVISIONS. 

JJacon  : 

Smoked per  pound 

Green do . . 

Butter do.. 

Mutton do.. 

Veal do.. 

Pork do.. 

C  an  dies do.. 

Cheese do. . 

EgfiS per  doz'ii 

Flour per  barrel 

risli : 

Cod per  pound 

Haddock do. . 

Ham do.. 

Shoulders do   . 

Milk per  quart 

Potatoes per  bushel 

Eice per  pound 

Soap,  yellow ,do.. 

Sugar,  brown do . . 

Tea: 

Black do . . 

Green do.. 

CLOTHING. 

Overcoats 


Cost. 


08  to 
10 


$0  15 
12 
25 
10 
12 
10 
13 
16 
23 
6  25 

06 
OG 
15 
10 
08 
40 
05 
05 
OS 

40 
40 


5  00        15  00 


Articles. 


C  LOTH  ING— Continued. 

Undercoats,  tweed 

Troiiseis 

Vests 

Shirts: 

Flannel 

Cotton  

Uiideiwear 

Drawers,  woolen 

Socks: 

Worsted 

Cotton 

Blankets per  pair 

Flannel per  yard 

Ciitton  .>^hirting <Io.. 

Cotton  sheeting,  double  ...do.. 

Canadian  cloth do. . 

Hats,  felt 

Shoes : 

Men's 

Women's , 

Long  boots 

India-rubber  overshoes : 

Men's 

Women's 

India-iubbers : 

Men's 

AVomeu's 


Cost. 


$4  00  to  $8  00 
2  00  5  60 
1  25    2  00 


1  50 
75 
50 
50 

25 
10 

2  50 
30 
12 
20 
50 

1  00 

1  00 

1  25 

2  00 

1  65 
1  30 

80 
55 


2  25 
1  00 
1  00 
1  00 

35 
20 
6  00 
40 
17 
25 

1  00 

2  50 

5  00 
2  75 

4  00 

2  10 
1  C5 

1  15 
75 


VARIOUS   OCCUPATIONS. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Ottawa. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Planing-milla 

$9  00 
7  50 
6  00 

6  50 

9  95 

7  50 
9  00 
6  00 

iflO  00 
12  00 
7  50 
10  00 

16  50 

10  50 

12  00 

7  50 

$9  50 
10  00 

I..a  l)orer8  in 

6  10 

7  50 

Foundries  and  machine-shops  : 

12  00 

Mulders 

10  00 

10  50 

Helpers 

6  60 

LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 
Vages  paid  per  week  of  sixly  hours  in  Ottawa — Continued. 


37 


Occupatious. 


I'rinters : 

Job  hands 

Pressmen 

Proof-readers 

Compositors per  thousand  ems.. 

Lumbermeu  : 

Lo;;  makers per  month . . 

Scorers <lo 

Lmerrt do  — 

Hewers v- *^" 

Cooks  in  camp do... 

Railway  employes : 

Conductors'  passenger per  annum. . 

Conductors,  freijihti do 

Knjjiueers,  passenger per  month.. 

Engineers,  freight <lo  .. 

Station-agents do 

Firemen    do 

Bralceraen do 

Flagmen .do 

Trackmen do... 

Agricultural: 

Farm  hands per  month.. 

Female  .servants do 


Lowest. 


$10  00 

10  00 

10  00 

30 

*18  00 
*24  00 
*28  00 
'•3G  00 
*30  00 


15  00 
5  00 


Highest.  I  Average. 


$15  00 
12  00 
12  00 


20  00 
26  00 
32  00 
45  00 
45  00 


24  00 
8  00 


$11  00 
11  00 
11  00 

tl2  00 


600  00 
700  00 
90  00 
75  00 
35  00 
45  00 
40  00 
22  00 
26   00 

18  00 
6  00 


With  board. 


tPor  week. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Ottawa. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest . 

Average. 

$9  00 
15  00 

7  50 
12  00 

7  80 
12  00 

7  80 
12  00 

7  50 
12  00 

7  50 

9  00 
12  00 

9  00 

9  00 

6  00 

9  00 
3  00 

7  50 
7  50 
9  00 

10  50 
3  00 
7  50 

3  00 

2  00 

7  50 

7  50 
10  00 

5  00 

3  50 

8  00 

7  00 
3  00 

$15  00 
21  00 

9  00 
15  00 

9  00 
15  00 

9  00 
15  00 

9  00 
15  00 

9  00 
12  00 
15  00 
12  00 
12  00 

7  50 

15  00 

5  00 
9  00 

18  00 
10  50 
12  00 
15  00 
12  00 

12  00 

6  00 

'  9  00 
9  00 
10  00 

10  00 

5  00 

25  00 

18  00 

7  50 

$12  00 

18  00 

8  40 

13  50 

8  40 

13  50 

8  40 

13  50 

8  40 

13  50 

8  40 

Carpenters 

n  60 

Gas-fitters 

13  50 

Bakers 

10  50 

Blaekaniiths 

10  50 

Strikers 

7  00 

Bookbinders : 

Male 

10  00 

4  00 

8  10 

15  00 

9  60 

11  40 

10  00 

9  00 

Clerks  in  stores : 

ISIalo               .       ..                                              

5  00 

4  00 

Drivers : 

8  40 

8  40 

10  00 

Dyers : 

Male 

7  00 

Female 

4  50 

15  00 

Furriers : 

Male 

14  00 

Female 

C  00 

5 1 4  i)  (.; 


38 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 
Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Ottawa. 


Occupations. 


Gardeners 

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers  and  porters 

Lithographers 

Millwrights 

Printers 

Teachers : 

Male 

Female 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Ship-carpenters 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$7  50 

$9  00 

9  00 

15  00 

8  00 

14  00 

6  00 

9  00 

6  00 

15  00 

10  50 

15  00 

10  00 

15  00 

4  00 

12  00 

2  00 

4  00 

6  00 

10  00 

10  00 

16  00 

7  50 

9  00 

8  00 

10  00 

6  00 

12  50 

4  00 

10  00 

Average. 


$8  00 
12  00 
12  00 
7  00 
12  00 
12  00 

11  00 

6  00 
3  00 

7  00 

12  00 

8  25 

9  CO 
8  50 
8  00 


United  States  Commercial  Agency, 

Ottmca,  A;pril  8,  1884. 


E.  B.  BOBBINS, 

Commercial  Agent. 


PORT  HOPE. 


REPORT  BY  COMMERCIAL  AGENT  DUTCHER. 

I  liave  the  honor  to  transmit  to  the  Department  tlie  following  "labor 
report,"  as  called  for  by  the  Department's  circular  of  Febrnary  15, 1884. 
I  have  made  it  as  complete  as  it  was  possible  from  the  resources  at 
hand.  In  many  cases  it  was  impossible  to  ascertain  with  any  degree 
of  accuracy  the  number  of  each  class  of  employes.  1  have,  therefore, 
found  it  impossible  to  strike  the  average  on  the  data  giv^en  by  the  De- 
partment, and  thus  have  left  that  column  partially  blank.  Where,  how- 
ever, it  has  been  filled,  the  average  may  be  relied  on  as  correct,  as  the 
figures  were  given  me  by  the  employes.  In  many  branches  of  business 
the  proprietors  employ  no  helj),  and  as  a  consequence  no  wages  are 
paid.  The  laboring  class,  as  a  whole,  are  iudnstrious,  frugal,  and  sober  ; 
many  of  them  own  comfortable  little  homes  of  their  own,  and  they  are 
free  to  procure  the  necessaries  of  life  where  they  please.  No  provision, 
however,  is  made  by  the  authorities  for  indigence  or  old  age.  The  major 
portion  of  the  females  employed  in  shops,  and  as  clerks  in  stores,  are 
unmarried  and  young,  and  are  members  of  respectable  families,  and  as 
a  whole,  are  intelligent  and  lady-like  in  their  deportment. 

In  ray  inquiries  for  information  on  these  several  points,  I  have  been 
greatly  aided  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Sanders,  town  clerk ;  Mr. 
Fairbairn,  station  agent  of  Grand  Trunk  Railway;  J.  F.  Clark,  mer- 
chant ;  S.  B.  Talter,  miller,  and  others. 

JACOB  C.  DUTCHEE, 

Commercial  Agent. 

United  States  Commercial  Agency, 

Port  Hope,  May  6,  1884. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

I.  General,  trades. 

Wages  paid  in  Port  Hope. 
[Per  week  of  sixty  hours.] 


39 


Occnpations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Briclf layers per  week. 

Iloci-carriera do. . . 

Masons do... 

Tenders do. . . 

Plasterers do. . . 

Ti-ndcrs do . . . 

Roofers do . . . 

Tenders do ' 

Plumbers do 

Assistants do 

Carpenters do 

Gas-fitters do 

OTHKll  T1{.\DKS. 

Blacksmiths per  week.. 

Strikers do 

Brickniakers do  .. 

Brewers per  annuni.. 

Butchers per  week.. 

Cabinet-makers per  day.. 

Drivers,  draymen,  and  t«amster8 do 

HorsRshoors per  week.. 

Jewelers do 

Laborers,  porters,  &c do 

Teachers  (public  schools) per  year. . 

Saddle  and  harness  makers. per  week.. 

Tanners do  ... 

Telegraph  operators per  niontli . . 

Tinsmiths per  week.. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$16  50 

$16  50 

$16  50 

9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

16  .50 

16  .50 

16  .50 

9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

12  00 

15  00 

13  50 

9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

12  00 

15  00 

13  .50 

9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

15  00 

15  00 

15  00 

6  00 

G  00 

6  00 

10  50 

13  50 

12  00 

12  00 

12  00 

12  00 

12  00 

15  00 

13  .50 

7  80 

9  60 

9  00 

9  00 

18  00 

15  00 

*1,000  00 

*1,  000  00 

*1,  000  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

1  25 
1  00 

1  75 
1  00 

1  00 

9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

S  00 

20  00 

14  00 

C  00 

G  00 

6  00 

200  00 

1, 150  00 

415  89 

6  00 
9  00 

8  00 

9  00 

9  00 

20  00 

40  00 

30  00 

0  00 

12  00 

*  And  one-half  the  profits. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hotirs  in  factories  or  mills  in  Fort  Hope  constilur  district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$12  50 

7  50 

7  50 

7  50 

18  00 

Average. 

Miller 

$10  00 

7  50 

7  50 

7  50 

18  00 

$10  87 

Packer 

7  50 

Shovelers 

7  50 

Salesman ..  .• 

7  50 

Teamster  and  team 

18  00 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  wetk  of  sixty  hours  in  railroad  company's  machine-shop  in  Port  Hope  con- 
sular district. 


Occapations. 


Machinist.. 
Turners  ... 
Blacksmith 


Lowest. 


$12  00 

12  00 

9  00 


Highest. 


$13  50 
13  50 
13  50 


Occnpations. 


Boiler-makers . 

Carpenters 

Fitters 


Lowest. 


$15  00 

9  00 

12  00 


Highest. 


$18  00 
10  50 
13  .50 


40 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  raihraij  employes  (those  engaged  ahovt  stations,  as  icell  as  those  en- 
gaged 071  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  <J-c.)  in  Fort  Hope  consular 
district. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average. 


Conductors i  $2  25 

Freiglitmen 1  1  75 

Enjiineers i  2  00 

Firemen    I  1  15 

Trackmen 1  10 

Switchmen {  125 

Porters 1  00 

Freight  clerks 1  25 

Telegraph  operators |  1  25 


$2  50 
2  00 
2  65 
1  40 
1  10 
1  25 
1  00 
1  25 
1  50 




$1  10 
1  25 
1  00 
1  25 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  seamen  {officers  and  men) — distinguishing  hetween  sail  and  steam — in  Port 

Hope  consular  district. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Captains per  month..  $60  00 

Mates <lo 52  50 

Sailors do...  30  00 

Cooks •- do  ...  20  00 

STEAMEUS. 

Captain per  month . .  *75  00 

1  engineer do *65  00 

2  engineers do *45  CO 

Mate do....  *45  00 

Firemen per  day..  "1  00 

"Wheelmen. do  ...  *1  00 

Deck  hands per  month..  *22  00 

Watchman do   ...  *20  00 

Cook per  day..  *1  00 


$60  00 

75  00 
60  00 
20  00 


eno  00 

63  75 
43  13 
20  00 


*  For  season  of  8  months. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  iti  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in 

Fori  Hope  consular  district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Clerks            . .  .-• . 

$2  50 
7  50 

2  50 
2  50 

$14  25 
11  00 

5  00 
5  00 

$7  50 

0  00 

Clerks             

FEMALES. 

3  50 

3  50 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per   month  to  household  servants  {towns  and   cities)  in  Fort   Hope  consular 

district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$5  00 

$6  00 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 


41 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  houi!<chold  (countrg)  servants  in  Port 
Hope  consular  district,  with  board  and  lodging. 


Occnpations. 


Ordinary  farm  hands 

Household  servants,  same  as  in  town  . 


Highest. 


$20  00 
8  0» 


XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  town  of  Port  Hope. 


Occupations. 


Town  clerk per  year. . 

Po  ice  magistrate do  . . 

Chief  constable do 

Treasurer do 

Market  clerk ...  do 

Street  surveyor do 

Collector  taxes do 

Auditors    do 

Assessors ., do 

Laborers per  day.. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$900  00 

$900  00 

800  00 

800  00 

700  00 

700  00 

225  00 

225  00 

450  00 

450  00 

400  00 

4U0  00 

300  00 

300  00 

50  00 

50  00 

125  00 

125  00 

1  00 

1  00 

Average. 


$900  OO 
800  00 
700  00 
225  00 
450  00 
400  00 
300  00 
50  00 
125  0« 
1  0» 


XIII.    GOVERNSIENT   DEPARTMENTS  AND   OFFICES. 


Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices  (exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers)  in  Port  Hope  consular  district. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$1, 000  00 
800  00 
600  00 

$1,  000  00 
800  00 
600  00 

$1,000  oo 

800  00 

600  M 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 


statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hoars  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  ^x.)  in  Port  Hope  consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Foreman  . . . 
Reporters  . . 
Compositors 
I'res.sMien  .. 
Apprentice. 


Lowest. 

Highest 

$12  00 

$12  00 

8  00 

8  00 

8  00 

8  (10 

5  00 

5  00 

2  00 

2  00 

Average. 


$12  0* 
8  0« 
8  00 
5  00 
i  0* 


42 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


PORT  ROWAN. 


REPORT  BY  OOMMERGIAL  AGENT  JANES. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  Simcoe. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TKADKS. 

Brielilayers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons  

Tenders 

Plasterers  

Tenders 

Carpenters 

OTHER   TRADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Brick-makers 

Brewers 

Butchers 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers   

Coopers 

Distillers 

Drivers  (draymen  and  teamsters) 

Dyers 

Gardeners  

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Millwrights '. 

Printers 

Teachers  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 


Lowest. 


$2  00 

1  00 

2  00 

1  00 

2  00 
1  00 
1  50 


1  00 
1  50 
1  00 
1  00 
1  00 


1  00 
1  50 
1  25 
1  00 

1  00 
'12  00 

2  00 
1  00 
1  50 
1  50 

1  00 

2  50 
t7  00 

1  00 
1  00 


Highest. 


1  50 
1  00 
1  25 


$3  00 
1  50 
3  00 
1  50 
3  00 

1  50 

2  00 


1  50 

2  00 
1  50 

3  00 
1  50 

1  50 

2  50 

2  00 
1  50 

3  00 
*1«  00 

3  50 

1  50 

2  00 

2  50 

1  50 

3  00 
112  00 

2  00 
1  50 

1  25 

2  .50 
1  50 
1  75 


Average. 


$2  50 

1  25 

2  50 

1  25 

2  50 
1  25 
1  75 


1  25 

1  75 
1  25 
1  50 
1  25 

1  25 

2  00 
1  50 
1  25 
1  50 


2  50 
1  25 

1  75 

2  00 

1  25 

2  75 
t9  00 

1  50 
1  25 
1  00 


1  00 
1  50 


*  Per  month,  with  board. 


t  Per  week. 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  faitories  or  mills  in  Simcoe. 


Occupations. 


Carders 

Spinners 

Weavers 

Finishers 

Dye-house  hands 
Dyer 


Lowest. 

n  50 

1  25 
75- 

1  00 
75 

2  00 

Highest. 


$2  00 
1  50 

1  00 

2  00 
1  00 

3  50 


Average. 


$1  75 
1  37 


1  5fl 
'2'75 


111.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Simcoe. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$1  50 
1  50 
1  25 

$2  00 
2  00 
1  75 

$1  75 

1  75 

1  50 

Apprentices  receive  $3  per  week  and  board  themselves. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

VI.  Railavay  employ>':s. 


43 


Wugti<  paid  to  raihvaif  employcx  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  .J'-c.)  in  Simcoe,  Ontario. 


OccupatioBB. 


Clerks     : per  day . . 

Engine-drivers do 

Conductors do 

Bagpageiiien,  train do 

Station  agents do 

Station  baggage-nieu do 

Station  tclt'grapli  operators per  niontb.. 

Station  porter  ...■ per  day.. 

Track  foreman do  . . . 

Track-men do 

Flag-mon do 

Switchmen do 

Pumpers ^ do  .. 

Track  snperinteDdents per  month.. 


Lowest     Higheot.    Average. 


$1  00 

2  90 
1  90 
1  50 
1  Ot 
1  00 

30  00 
1  00 
1  75 
1  15 
90 
1  15 
1  15 

75  00 


$1  25 
3  10 
2  25 

1  60 

2  50 
1  20 

40  00 
1  00 
1  76 
1  20 
1  00 
1  35 
1  35 

85  GO 


VIII.  Seamen's  avaoes. 

Wages  paid  to  seamen  {officers  and  men)  on  Lake  Erie,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Captain per  month. 

Mate do. . . 

Crew per  da j' . 


Lowest. 


$75  00 

40  00 

1  00 


Highest. 


$1  12i 
3  00 
2  10 
1  55 
1  7S 
1  10 

35  00 
1  00 
1  75 
1  124 
95 
1  2* 
1  2« 

80  09 


$100  00 

CO  00 

1  50 


Average. 


$85  0« 

50  09 

1  2S 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  year  in  stores,  to  malts  and/emales,  in  Simcoe  and  vicinity. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Dr vgofids  ('lorks 

•tlSO  00 

$650  00 

450  00 

.     600  00 

1,  000  00 

$350  09 

^ 

300  00 
200  00 
700  00 

:!25  00 

400  09 

800  00 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  serrants  (town  and  cities)  in  Simcoeand  vicinity,  Ontario 


» 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest, 

Average. 

House 

hold  servants 

$4  00 

$8  00 

$6  0« 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  serrants  in  Norfolk  County, 
Ontario,  with  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Agricultural  laborers per  month . 

Household  servants per  week. 


Lowest. 


$12  00 
75 


Highest. 


$16  00 
1  50 


Average. 


$14  0* 
1  M 


44  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  day  often  hours  to  the  corporatioti  employes  in  the  town  of  Simcoe,  Ontario. 


Occupations.  I  Lowest.    Highest.   Average, 


Common  laborers $100  1        $1  00  |  *1  00 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  shoicing  the  iv  ages  paid  per  tceek  of  sixty  hours  to  j^r  inters. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest.    Highest. 

Average. 

.     $7  00 

$12  00 

$9  00 

HENEY  M.  JANES, 

Commercial  Agent 
United  States  Consular  Agency, 

Port  Rowan,  May  30,  1884. 


PORT  SARNIA. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  PACE. 

description  of  district. 

In  compliance  with  Department  circular  under  date  of  Febrnary  15, 
1884,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  iuforination  relating 
to  labor  and  the  condition  of  the  laboring  classes  in  the  consular  dis- 
trict of  Port  Sarnia.  Manufacturing  establishments  are  not  numerous 
in  this  district,  and  they  are  principally  confined  to  the  three  cities  of 
London,  Strathroy,*  and  Port  Sarnia.  The  factories  of  London  give 
permanent  employment  to  about  1,500  men,  whilst  Strathroy,  and  Port 
Sarnia,  employ  about  two  hundred  each.  The  principal  articles  of  manu- 
facture are  machinery,  stoves,  plows,  agricultural  implements,  ale,  and 
wookn  clotlis.  Several  oil  refineries  are  also  established  in  this  district, 
tlie  principal  ones  being  located  at  London.  Daring  the  past  ten  years 
several  steamers  and  schooners  have  been  built  at  this  port,  but  at  the 
present  nothing  whatever  is  being  done  in  the  way  of  ship  building  or 
repairing.  The  i)eople  of  this  district  are  for  the  most  part  employed 
in  the  pursuits  of  agriculture.  Stock-raising  and  cheese-making  are  fast 
becoming  iiermanent  and  profitable  employments. 

rates  of  wages. 

As  to  the  rate  of  wages,  I  must  refer  to  the  accompanying  tabular 
Btatement,  whicli  is  as  full  and  complete  as  I  could  make  it  from  infor- 
mation furnished  me  by  both  employers  and  employes. 

COST   OF   living. 

There  are  represented  in  the  laboring  classes  of  Canada  most  of  the 
•ountries  of  Europe  as  well  as  the  native  Canadian.  The  habits  of 
•conomy  practiced  by  the  European  laborer,  and  which  he  of  necessity 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  45 

inherited  from  liis  borne  beyond  the  sea,  give  luni  an  advantajje  in  the 
battleoflife  over  those  ^vho^verebonl  in  Canada,  Nvherewagesarehigher 
and  food  more  easily  obtained.  In  the  rural  districts  the  farm  laborer 
lias  usually  assigned  to  him  a  small  i)iece  of  land  sutlicient  for  his  use 
as  a  vegetable  garden,  and  I  am  iufoiined  that  it  is  also  customary  to 
provide  for  him  ])astuie  for  a  cow.  Under  these  circumstances  1  have 
known  men  to  accumulate  (uipital  sufficient  to  make  a  first  ])ayment  on 
ii  new  farm,  and  finally  become  landed  i)roi)rietors  themselves.  Whilst 
I  would  not  recommend  Canada  as  a  country  where  fortunes  are  easily 
or  raj)idly  made,  yet  J  am  fully  ])ersuaded,  by  inquiry  and  observation, 
that  in  this  country  iiulustry  and  economy  seldom  seek  in  vain  for  a 
reward. 

"WAGES  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 

In  every  department  of  skilled  labor  there  has  been  an  advance  in 
wages  since  1878.  The  protective  policy  iiianguratod  by  the  Govern- 
ment of  Sir  John  A.  McDonald,  commonly  known  as  the  national  pol- 
icy, has  stimulated  all  branches  of  manufacturing  industry,  and,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  a  greater  demand  for  labor  has  liad  the  effect  to  in- 
crease the  rate  of  wages  paid ;  the  increase  in  wages  is  estimated  at  the 
present  time  to  be  20  per  cent,  in  advance  of  1878.  With  agricultural 
labor,  much  dej)ends  ui)(ni  the  prospect  for  crops,  and  the  prices  real- 
ized for  the  various  products  of  the  farm,  as  to  the  increase  or  decrease 
in  the  rate  of  wages  paid  for  hired  help. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 

As  a  rule,  tlie  habits  of  the  Canadian  working  classes  will  compare 
favorably  with  the  same  class  of  citizens  in  the  United  States;  to  be 
sure,  there  are  evidences  of  shiftlessness,  and  drunkenness,  and  squalid 
poverty  to  be  observed  here  and  there,  but  the  opposite  is  also  api)arent. 
The  crime  of  druidvenness,  I  am  glad  to  say,  is  decreasing.  The  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors  is  now  regulated  hy  a  license  system,  and  in  some 
localities  the  sale  of  intoxicants  is  verj'  much  restricted  by  a  local  op- 
tion law,  known  as  the  Scott  act.  It  is  not  claimed,  even  by  the  most 
enthusiastic  advocates  of  temjierance,  that  drunkenness  is  entirely  re- 
strained by  this  measure,  but  it  is  doubtless  true  that  drunkenness  and 
its  attendant  evils  are  greatly  restricted  in  localities  where  the  Scott 
act,  by  a  vote  of  the  people,  has  been  placed  upon  the  statute  books. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

So  far  as  my  observation  goes  I  should  say  the  most  amicable  rela- 
tions exist  between  the  laboier  and  the  man  who  employs  him,  and  es- 
pecially is  this  true  in  the  rujal  districts.  To  judge  by  what  we  can 
see,  it  is  hard  to  distinguish  the;  larm  laborer  from  the  i)roprietor  of  the 
soil  ui)on  which  he  labors.  The  hired  man  and  the  hired  girl,  as  they 
are  termed  on  the  farm,  dine  at  the  same  table  with  the  proi)rietor  and 
his  family,  and  to  all  outward  appearances  they  fare  as  well  as  do  the 
owners  of  real  estate. 

ORGANIZATION   OF  LABOR. 

There  are  but  few  labor  organizations  in  this  district,  and  they  are 
confined  to  London.  They  consist  of  a  railroad  engineers'  society  and 
a  lodge  of  the  ''Knights  ot  Labor."  1  cannot  observe  that  these  organi- 
zations have  any  further  eflect  uj)ou  labor  than  to  assist  the  laborer  in 


46  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

a  social  aud  intellectual  manner.  At  the  present  time  there  does  not 
appear  to  be  any  antagonism — at  least  any  marked  antagonism — be- 
tween capital  and  labor. 

THE   PREVALENCY   OF   STRIKES. 

Strikes  do  not  frequently  occur  in  this  country.  A  mechanic  said  to 
me  recently,  in  reply  to  the  question,  "  Do  yon  operatives  ever  strike?" 
"No,"  said  he  with  a  smile,  "  w^e  do  not  strike;  we  emigrate.  The 
United  States  is  too  near  to  make  strikes  necessary.  When  we  cannot 
agree  with  our  employers  on  the  subject  of  wages  we  go  to  that  larger 
country  across  the  border." 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

"  Are  working  people  free  to  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life  wherever 
they  choose?" 

To  this  question  I  say  yes.  1  believe  the  workingman  has  no  condi- 
tions imposed  upon  him  in  this  regard.  He  is  paid  in  cash  once  a  week 
and  sometimes  oftener. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

These  societies  do  not  prosper  in  Canada;  A  few  have  been  estab- 
lished from  time  to  time,  but  they  die  early.  For  some  reason  they  do 
not  carry  out  in  practice  what  the^'  promise  in  theory. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF  WORKING-PEOPLE. 

To  visit  the  home  of  the  Canadian  laborer  one  does  not  discover 
enough  of  difference  between  it  and  the  home  of  the  laborer  in  the 
United  States  to  make  the  description  of  it  a  matter  of  interest  to  our 
people ;  and  the  same  is  true  in  reference  to  their  moral  and  physical 
condition. 

"  What  means  are  furnished  for  the  safety  of  employes  in  factories 
and  mines  ?" 

There  are  no  mines  in  this  district,  and  I  cannot  learn  that  any  spe- 
cial provisions  are  made  for  the  safety  of  working-people  in  factories. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

Since  the  adoption  of  the  ballot  in  1874,  the  Canadian  voter  may  ex- 
press his  choice  at  the  polls,  without  the  slightest  interference  on  the 
part  of  anybody.  The  voter,  on  reaching  the  polls,  procures  a  ballot, 
which  has  printed  upon  it  the  names  of  all  the  candidates — the  candi- 
dates of  his  choice  and  those  who  are  opposed  to  him  politically.  With 
this  paper  he  retires  to  a  room  by  himself,  and,  being  previously  pro- 
vided with  a  pencil,  he  makes  a  mark  on  the  margin  of  the  ballot,  op- 
posite the  name  of  the  candidate  of  his  choice ;  he  then  folds  the  ballot, 
and  handing  it  to  the  returning  officer  he  sees  that  it  is  deposited  in 
the  ballot-box  precisely  as  he  prepared  it.  -  The  tendency  of  legislation 
in  Canada  is  to  extend  rather  than  curtail  the  voting  privilege. 

EMIGRATION. 

"What  are  the  causes  that  lead  to  emigration?" 

Canadian  emigrants  to  the  United  States  come  principally  from  the 
rural  districts,  and  their  object  generally  is  to  procure  cheaper  lands. 
Available  farming  lands  in  Canada  are  high,  as  compared  to  lands  in 
Michigan  aud  other  Western  States,  and  as  the  native  Canadian  has 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


47 


no  national  prejudice  to  surrender,  he  as  readily  assimilates  with  our 
people  as  he  would  with  the  ])eople  of  an  adjoining  county  in  Canada; 
he  desires  to  better  his  condition  financially,  and  for  that  ])urpose  he 
seeks  and  finds  a  conj^enial  home  in  the  United  States.  When  once 
across  the  border  the  Canadian  emigrant  seldom  returns  to  remain  per- 
manently. Occasionally,  however,  a  discontented  person  will  find  his 
way  back.  In  such  an  event  he  is  quite  apt  to  be  gratified  by 
seeing  his  name  in  print.  He  is  usually  interviewed  by  some  press 
reporter,  or  he  is  induced  to  write  a  letter.  In  these  literary  efforts  I 
have  been  frequently  struck  with  the  evident  similarity  of  style.  He 
tells  how  he  was  lured  away  from  Canada  by  false  representations ;  how 
he  expected  to  find  an  Eldorado,  instead  of  which  he  found  the  ague, 
and  now  that  he  is  safely  back  again  he  declares  his  intention  never 
again  to  wander  from  British  institutions.  Notwithstanding  these  sol- 
emn declarations  and  pledges,  I  have  known  them  to  be  violated  over 
and  over  again.  One  man  whom  I  chanced  to  meet  as  he  was  re-cross- 
ing into  Canada  after  a  six  months'  sojourn  in  Michigan,  said  he  had 
got  quite  enough  of  the  United  States,  and  that  he  was  glad  to  get 
back  again  to  Canada.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  in  less  than  six 
mouths  he  again  emigrated  to  Michigan. 

SAM'L  D.  PACE,  Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Port  ^Sarnia,  June  28,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  p^r  week  in  Port  Sarnia. 


Occupations. 


Building  trades 

Bricklayers        

Hod-carriers 

Masons 

Teuders 

Plasterers  

Tenders 

Slaters  

Koofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants 

Carjjenteirs 

Gas-fitters 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookbinders 

Brickmakers 

Brewers   

Butchers 

Brass  founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

Dyers 

Gai'deners 

Horse-slioers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Millwriirhts 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  schools... 
Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sailmakers 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegi'aph  operators 

Tinstnitiis 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$9  00 

$12  00 

12  00 

15  00 

6  00 

7  50 

12  00 

15  00 

6  00 

7  50 

12  00 

15  00 

6  00 

7  50  1 

12  00 

15  00  1 

i    12  00 

15  00  i 

6  00 

7  50  ! 

12  00 

15  00  1 

G  00 

7  50 

12  00 

15  00 

12  00 

15  00 

9  00 

12  00 

9  00 

10  50 

C  00 

7  50 

15  00 

20  00 

9  00 

12  00 

12  00 

15  00 

C  00 

12  00  1 

12  00 

15  00  1 

9  00 

10  50 

9  00 

12  00  ; 

12  00 

15  00  i 

9  00 

12  00  1 

12  00 

15  00  ' 

9  00 

12  00  1 

12  00 

15  00 

0  CO 

7  50  1 

12  00 

15  00 

12  00 

15  00 

7  50 

15  00 

9  00 

12  00 

9  00 

12  00  1 

9  00 

12  00  ' 

12  00 

15  00  1 

9  00 

15  00  ! 

9  00 

10  00  ! 

Average. 


$10  50 
13  50 

6  75 
13  50 

6  75 
13  59 

6  7S 
13  50 
13  50 

6  ?!» 
13  50 

6  75 
13  50 
13  50 
10  50 

9  75 

6  75 
17  5  J 
10  !50 
13  50 

9  00 
13  5() 

9  75 
10  50 
13  50 
10  50 
13  50 
10  5« 
13  50 

6  75 
13  .50 
13  50 
10  00 
10  5» 
10  50 
10  50 
13  50 
12  00 

9  50 


48 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


PRESCOTT. 


REPORT  RY  COXSUIj  SLAGHT. 


I  liave  tlie  liouor  to  rejiort  ou  the  labor  interest  of  this  district  as 
follows: 

Agricultural  interests  being  so  largely  in  excess  of  all  others  labor  is 
tcostly  applied  to  the  production  of  crnde  material.  Farm  implements 
of  a  useful  and  substantial  class  are  quire  largely'  manufactured,  cloths 
of  the  more  serviceable  kinds  are  produced.  The  building  trades  of  the 
ordinary  class  are  fairly  represented.  Skilled  or  artistic  labor  is  in  very 
limited  demand;  many  branches  of  the  latter  class  are  wholly  unrepre- 
sented. Hence  the  very  meager  scope  of  this  report,  The  constant  in- 
tercourse existing  among  the  i)eople  of  American  cities  in  this  vicinity, 
together  with  the  continuous  interchange  of  commodities,  renders  the 
<30st  of  living  in  this  i)art  of  Canada  very  nearly  if  not  quite  equal  to 
places  of  like  size  in  the  United  States. 

HARET  L.  SLAGHT, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Prescott,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  2)er  day  in  Prescott. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TKADE8. 

Bricklayers 

H(i<i-carrier3 

Masons  

Tenders 

Plastereis     

Teuders 

Sl^tPrs 

Rooters 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants 

-Car])enter8 

■Gas-fitters 

OTHER  TKADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

BooUbindira 

Brick  makers 

Brcwern  

BiiUdiers 

Cabinet-mfikers 

Couf'ectioneis 

Cijiar-miikers per  M 

Distdlers  

Drivers: 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab,  carriage,  and  street  railways 

Dyers 

Engravers  

Furiiers  

Gardeners  t 

Horsi'slioers 

Jewelers    

Laborers,  porters,  &c 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$1  50 

$3  00 

1  00 

1  50 

1  50 

3  (10 

1  00 

1  50 

2  00 

3  50 

1  00 

1   50 

2  50 

3  00 

2  50 

3  00 

1  00 

1  50 

2  00 

4  00 

1  00 

2  00 

1  50 

3  (10 

1  50 

3  00 

1  25 

2  50 

1  25 

2  50 

1  25, 

1  50 

1  00 

1  50 

1  .50 

2  50 

2  00 

5  00 

1  00 

1  50 

1  50 

3  00 

1  50 

3  00 

2  50 

8  00 

2  00 

5  00 

1  00 

1  50 

1  00 

1  50 

1  50 

3  00 

2  00 

4  00 

2  00 

4  00 

1  50 

2  0(1 

1  50 

3  00 

2  00 

3  00 

1    1  00 

2  00 

$2  0« 
1  25 
1  25 

1  25 

2  50 

1  25 

2  00 

2  00 
1  00 

3  00 

1  50 

2  00 
2  0« 


2  00 
1  50 
1  50 

1  25 

2  09 

3  00 

1  50 

2  00 
2  00 


3  00 

1  25 

1  25 

2  00 

3  00 
3  00 

1  50 

2  00 
2  50 
1  50 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

Wages  paid  per  day  in  Prescott — Continued. 


49 


Occapationa. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Othbr  trades— Continned. 


Millwrights 

Printers 

Teachers  (public  schools) 

Saddle  and  harness  maker  . . . 

Stevedores 

Tanners  (board  and  lodging) 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Weavers  (oatside  of  mUla) . . . 


.  per  annam . . 
...per  week.. 
...per  hour., 
.per  month.. 
.  .per  week., 
.per  month.. 
..per  week.. 


$2  00 

1  50 

500  00 

9  00 

25 


9  00 

40  00 

7  50 


$4  00 

2  50 

1, 200  00 

12  00 

40 


15  00 

100  00 

15  00 


$3  00 

2  00 

720  00 

10  00 

25 

25  00 

10  00 

75  OO 

10  0« 

2  0* 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wagea  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Prescott  consular  district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest 

Average. 

Carders 

$6  00 
12  00 

5  00 

6  00 

7  00 
12  00 
12  00 

6  00 
9  00 

$10  00 
18  00 
7  50 

10  00 

11  00 
18  00 
18  00 

9  00 
15  00 

$0  00 
15  00 

Overseers • 

Weavers . 

6  00 

8  00 

Fullers 

0  00 

Finishers 

15  Ot 

15  00 

Wool-sorters , 

7  50 

Spinners • 

12  00 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Prescott 

consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Average. 


Holders |  $12  00 

Machinists I  9  00 

Tinsmiths '  9  00 

Helpers  and  laborers j  7  00 


$15  00 
10  00 
10  00 
8  00 


VI.  Railway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  an^cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  4'c.)  in  Prescott  consular  district. 


Occnpations. 

Average. 

Occupations. 

Average. 

Charge  of  stations per  year. . 

Senior  office  clerks do 

Junior  office  clerks  do 

Employ6s  in  freight-sheds do  — 

$800  00 
600  00 
400  00 
500  00 

Linemen per  year. . 

Cimdnctors per  month.. 

En  nine-drivers do 

Brakemen do 

$400  00 
60  00 
75  00 
40  00 

92  A— 2   LAB- 


50 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 


Wages  paid  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  ietween  ocean,  coast,  and  river 
navigation,  and  ietween  sail  and  steam — in  Frescott  consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Captain  of  sailing  vessels per  month . . 

Mate  of  sailing  vessels do — 

Sailors  of  sailing  vessels do 1 

River  navigation. 

Captain  of  steamers per  year . .  i 

First  mate  and  pilot per  month . . 

Second  mate • do 

Engineers do 

Deck-hands  and  firemen do 1 


$50  00 
30  00 
25  00 


700  00 
60  00 
40  00 
40  00 
20  00 


Highest. 


$60  00 
40  00 
30  00 


1,  000  00 
70  00 
50  00 
60  00 
30  00 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  iri  Frescott  con 

sular  district,  per  month. 


Occupations. 


Dry  goods  clerks 
Hardware  clerks 
Grocery  clerks  . . 

Shoe  clerks 

Drug  clerks 


Lowest.    Highest.   Averagv, 


$25  00 
25  00 
20  00 
25  00 
25  00 


$50  00 
50  00 
35  00 
40  00 
50  00 


$38  00 
40  00 
30  00 
30  00 
35  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  Frescott  consular  district, 

with  ioard. 


Occupations. 


Male  servants 

Female  servants. 


Lowest, 


Average. 


$12  00 
7  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  sei-vants  in  Frescott 
consular  district,  with  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Farm  hands,  men 

Gardeners  and  florists,  men 

Manager  dairy  department,  men 

Dairy  helpers,  men 

Dairy  helpers,  women 

General  house  work,  women 


Lowest.  I  Highest.   Average. 


$18  00 

15  00 

25  00 

10  00 

5  00 

5  00' 


$30  00 

25  00 

35  00 

18  00 

8  00 

8  00 


$23  00 
20  00 
30  00 
15  00 
7  00 
6  00 


XII.  Corporation  employj^s. 

Wages  paid  pei'  day  and  year  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  cities  of  Frescott  consular 

district. 


Occupations. 


Police  magistrates per  year.. 

Chief  police do 

Regular  police  force do 

Laborers per  day.. 


Lowest. 

$200  00 

450  00 

400  00 

1  00 

Highest 


$1, 000  00 

800  00 

500  00 

1  25 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  51 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  lUyartments  and  offices — vxchisive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers — in  Prescott  consular  district. 


Occupations.  t  Lowest.    Higheat. 

Postmasters '■ :$1,400  00  |  $2,700  09 

Assistaiits,  clerks,  &c I      400  00       1,  000  00 

Collectors  of  customs ;  1,  300  00       1,  500  00 

Under  officers I      600  00       1,200  60 

Collectors,  inland  revenue '■... ^    1,400  Oo 

Assistants I      600  00       1,200  00 


XV. — Printers  and  Printing  Offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  </c.)  in  Prescott  consular  district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest.  Average. 

$8  00 
10  00 
10  00 
10  00 
6  00 

$10  00  1          $9  00 
l'5  00  1          12  00 

Pressmen 

15  00  1          12  00 

Proof-readers 

12  00  1          11  00 
8  00  i            1  (i\> 

Common  hands -  -        - -- 

SHERBBOOEE. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  PARSES. 

business  depression. 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith,  in  response  to  the  circular  of 
February  15,  1884,  the  fullest  and  most  reliable  information  that  I  have 
been  able  to  obtain  relative  to  the  condition  of  labor  and  the  industrial 
pursuits  in  the  consular  district  of  Sherbrooke.  Before  entering  upon 
the  matters  directly  connected  with  the  inclosed  statements  it  seems 
proper  to  remark  that  there  is,  at  this  time,  a  temporary  depression  in 
the  market  for  certain  lines  of  skilled  labor,  owing-  to  the  fact  that  the 
stimulating  influence  of  the  Canadian  tariff  on  imports  caused  an 
overproduction  of  cotton,  leather,  woolen,  and  a  few  other  kinds  of  man- 
ufactured goods,  thus  embarrassing  operations,  crippling  .some  manu- 
facturers, and  causing  a  few  to  suspend,  and  many  to  curtail  production. 
This  is,  however,  but  the  natural  result,  which  was  foreseen  by  many 
as  inevitable  in  a  country  of  such  comi)aratively  limited  population,  and 
so  rich  in  cheap  water-power  and  other  natural  advantages  that  invite 
manufacturing  enterprise.  This  evil  effect  of  the  "  National  Policy  " 
as  it  is  termed  here,  will,  in  all  probability,  work  its  own  cure ;  and  the 
condition  of  the  laborer,  while  not  so  favored  as  in  the  United  States, 
will  continue  to  be  greatly  in  advance  of  that  of  his  fellow  workers  in 
the  principal  countries  of  Europe.  In  the  city  of  Sherbrooke  the  effects 
of  this  depression  has  been  most  severely  felt  by  the  woolen  uiills  oper- 
atives. The  woolen  mills  of  A.  G.  Loomis  &  Co.,  that  employ  from 
100  to  150  people,  have  been  closed  for  the  past  live  months  and  will  not 
reopen  until  the  stock  on  hand  is  sold,  while  the  mills  of  the  Paton 
Manufacturing  Company — the  largest  woolen  mills  in  Canada — have 


52  LABOR  m  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

been  running  for  many  months  on  three-fourths  time.  As  these  mills 
employ  over  500  people,  the  loss  of  one-fourth  their  time  amounts  to  a 
very  considerable  sum  in  the  aggregate. 

AREA  AND  DIVISION   OF  LABOR. 

This  consular  district  embraces  about  4,098  square  miles  of  territory, 
containing,  as  nearly  as  I  can  determine,  95,500  inhabitants,  of  whom 
49,048  are  males  and  46,452  are  females.  The  occupation  of  the  people 
is  largely  agricultural.  Many  of  those,  however,  classified  as  agricult- 
urists, are,  a  portion  of  the  time,  engaged  in  other  pursuits — many  in 
connection  with  the  lumbering  and  mining  interests.  The  following 
partial  classification  of  the  adults  is  the  best  that  I  have  been  able  to 
procure,  and  may  serve  to  indicate,  with  sufiicient  accuracy,  the  facts 
in  the  case : 

Agricultural  pursuits 18, 774 

Commercial - 1, 199 

Industrial 3, 394 

Professional 1,  022 

Domestic  service 999 

Unclassified 4, 073 

Of  these  13,230  are  owners  and  occupiers  of  farms.  The  mills  and 
principal  manufacturing  establishments  of  Sherbrooke,  the  principal 
city  of  the  consular  district,  are  given  in  detail  in  the  tabular  state- 
ments transmitted  herewith ;  but  outside  of  these  there  are  in  various 
parts  of  the  district  many  large  industrial  establishments  from  which  it 
has  been  impossible  to  obtain  anything  like  exact  ihformation.  Among 
these  latter  may  be  mentioned  a  number  of  saw-mills  which  employ 
a  great  many  laborers  both  in  the  work  of  cutting  the  timber  in  the  for- 
ests and  driving  it  down  the  streams  to  the  mills,  and  at  the  mills  them- 
selves. Hundreds  of  men  also  find  employment  during  the  winter  in  cut- 
ting logs  for  shipment  to  the  mills  of  the  United  States,  in  getting  ship- 
timber  and  ship-knees  for  the  ship-builders  of  Maine  and  Massachusetts, 
and  in  peeling  hemlock  bark  for  the  American  and  other  tanneries.  The 
copper,  sulphur,  and  nickel  mines  of  Capletou  give  employment  to  prob- 
ably 1,000  men.  A  tabular  statement  of  the  wages  paid  at  the  largest 
of  these  mines  will  be  found  among  the  inclosed  papers,  and  the  schedule 
of  wages,  methods  of  work,  and  cost  of  living  are  so  nearly  the  same 
that  one  may  serve  the  whole.  The  extensive  asbestos  mines  of  Thet- 
ford,  and  the  production  of  vast  quantities  of  quicklime  from  the  quar- 
ries at  Dudswell,  also  consume  the  labor  of  many  people,  but  the  wages 
at  these  places  are  very  little  in  excess  of  those  prevailing  for  ordinary 
labor.  The  gentlemen  who  compiled,  under  my  direction,  the  statistics 
transmitted  herewith,  and  who  made  diligent  and  careful  inquiries  at  all 
the  mills  and  manufactories  within  reach,  places  the  average  of  earnings 
of  skilled  labor  at  $8  per  week. 

COST   OF  LIVING 

to  this  class  of  workers  per  week  as  follows,  to  wit : 

Rent $1  50 

Clothing 2  50 

Food 3  50 

Incidentals 50 

Total 8  00 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


53 


I  think,  however,  that  the  cost  of  living  is  very  generally  less  than 
the  figures  he  has  given  and  that  laborers  who  receive  $8  per  week  often 
save  something  beyond  supporting  themselves  and  the  dependent  mem- 
bers of  their  families,  but  the  savings  are  necessarily  very  small.  This 
relates  to  men's  earnings,  and  in  all  such  cases  the  other  members  of 
the  family  are  put  to  earning  something  for  their  own  support  as  soon 
as  their  ages  and  strength  will  permit.  The  wages  of  women  and  children 
are  so  varied  that  each  kind  of  labor  must  stand  for  itself;  no  correct 
average  can  be  given.  In  lumbering,  ordinary  woodsmen  and  choppers 
average  $1  per  day,  and  ususually  board  themselves  in  the  woods ;  head 
sawyers  and  managers  of  planing  and  clapboard  machines  receive  from 
$1.50  to  $1.75  per  day.  The  rate  of  ordinary  uuskilled  labor  varies  from 
75  cents  to  $1.20  for  men,  and  from  25  cents  to  50  cents  per  day  for 
women. 

The  tenements  occupied  by  laborers  are  generally  somewhat  poorer 
and  their  comforts  considerably  less  than  those  enjoyed  by  the  same 
classes  in  those  portions  of  the  United  States  with  which  I  am  best  ac- 
quainted, to  wit,  the  North  and  West. 

BENJ.  S.  PAEKER, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

SherbrooJce,  June  23, 1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Sherhrooke. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.   Average. 


Bricklayers 

Hod-carriera. 
Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants... 

Carpenters 

Gas-fitters 


BUILDING  TRADES. 


OTHER  TRACKS. 


Bakers , 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Brick-makers 

Brewers 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Drivers :  Draymen  and  teamsters . 

Gardeners 

Horseshoers 

Laborers,  porters,  &.C 

Printers  

Teachers,  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Painters 

Sawyers 

Lumbermen 


$12  00 
6  00 
10  50 
6  00 
8  GO 
6  00 
8  00 
6  00 
6  66 
8  00 


7  00 
7  50 
6  00 
6  60 
20  00 

6  00 

7  00 
9  00 

7  50 
6  00 
6  00 

5  40 

6  00 
*200  00 

8  00 
1  50 

140  00 
6  00 
8  00 
8  00 
6  00 


$18  00 

8  00  I 
15  00  , 

8  00 
12  00 

8  00 
12  00  ' 

6  00  1 
12  00 
12  00  ■ 


12  00 

10  50 

6  00 

12  00 

20  00 

12  00 

12  00 

20  00 

12  00 

12  00 

10  00 

8  00 

10  00 

*1,  000  00 

14  00 

2  00 

teo  00 

12  00 

12  00 

12  00 

8  00 


$15  00 

7  00 
12  00 

7  00 
10  50 

7  00 
10  00 

6  00 

9  00 
10  00 


8  00 

9  00 
6  00 
9  00 

20  00 
10  00 

8  00 
12  GO 

9  00 
9  GO 
9  00 

6  00 
8  00 

•500  00 

10  00 

1  75 

150  GO 

8  00 

9  GO 
10  50 

7  00 


*  Per  anDTim. 


t  Per  month. 


54 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  pe)'  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Slierbrooke. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

PATON'S  WOOLEN  MILLS. 

Mm. 

$6  00 

4  50 

5  10 
5  40 

5  40 

6  00 

1  25 
6  00 
6  00 
4  50 
6  00 
6  00 
6  00 

2  70 

3  00 
2  40 

2  10 

3  00 

$7  50 

7  50 

9  00 

9  00 

10  50 

9  00 

1  25 

12  00 

12  00 

10  50 

18  00 

10  50 

9  00 

3  00 
3  60 

3  80 

4  00 
3  00 

$6  40 

6  10 

6  42 

6  30 

6  90 

8  16 

1  25 

8  00 

7  25 

28  finishers 

6  27 

8  68 

7  56 

7  56 

Women. 

2  82 

13  carders 

3  14 

25  winders 

3  17 

3  spoolers .  

3  20 

21  twisters 

3  00 

4  50 

1 

5  00 

3  pattern-makers - 

5  00 
2  10 

5  00 
3  90 

5  00 

12  pickers,  waste . . . 

Boys. 

2  61 

3  00 

1  dyer 

3  00 

1  picker  

3  00 
3  00 
2  10 

4  12 
3  00 
3  50 

3  56 

2  corders 

3  00 

8  spinners 

2  50 

1  spooler 

2  70 

2  twisters .   .. 

2  50 

9  weavers 

2  00 
2  25 

3  00 
3  50 

2  50 

18  finishers 

2  50 

3  00 

1  machinist . . 

4  50 

4  pickers,  waste  . . 

Girls. 

2  10 

3  00 

2  70 

27  carders  

3  00 

24  spinners 

2  70 

5  winders 

2  40 
4  20 

3  00 

2  88 
8  00 
4  50 

2  60 

9  spoolers 

5  05 

8  warpers , 

3  45 

123  weavers ' 

4  00 

45  finishers " 

2  25 

3  00 

3  75 
2  75 
2  00 

5  00 
5  00 

5  00 
4  00 
4  00 

3  00 

4  pattern-makers 

4  25 

A.   L.   GUINOD  &  CO.,  WOOLEN   MAIJUFACTURERS. 

Women. 
Weavers 

4  50 

Spinners 

3  00 

Carders 

3  00 

Dyers 

Men. 

6  00 

6  00 

Corset-makors 

CORSKT  MANUFACTURERS. 

1  25 

6  00 

9  00 
6  00 

2  10 

7  50 

9  00 

9  00 
6  00 
2  10 

4  50 

Snath-niakers 

DOMINION  SNATH  COMPACT. 

7  50 

Sawyer 

PULP-MAKERS. 

9  00 

Laborers 

6  00 

Boys 

2  10 

Paper-makers 

8  10 

LA.BOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

III.  Foundries,  maohine-shops,  and  iron  works. 


55 


Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  foundries,  machine  shops,  and  iron  works  in  Sher- 

brooke. 


Occupations. 

Lowest 

Highest 

Average. 

$9  00 
6  00 
10  50 



$12  00 
10  50 
16  50 

$10  50 

Strikera        --   

7  50 

Blacksmiths 

14  50 

Bov  8         

3  00 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hou^s  in  and  in  connectian  with  copper  mines  in  Capelon. 


Occapatious. 


Lowest. 


Highest 


Average. 


Strikers  and  miners 

Trammers  and  laborers 


$7  50 
6  00 


DUD8WKLL  LIMB  QUARRIES. 


Quarry  men. 


$9  GO 
7  50 


12  00 


$8  00 
6  75 


8  10 


VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railicay  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  an 
the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  ^*c.),  in  Sherbrooke. 


Occapations. 


Snperintendents per  month. 

Night  agents per  week. 

Telegraph  operators do... 

Porters do. .. 

Switchmen do... 

Clerks per  annum. 

Agent do . . . 

Brakesmen per  week. 

Conductors per  month. 

Engine  drivers , do... 

Firemen do... 

Section  men  foreman do. . . 

Laborers, per  week. 

Fitters do... 

Jingine  turners do... 

Laborers do... 


Lowest. 


$6  00 

7  00 

300  00 

800  00 

7  50 

40  00 

55  00 


Highest. 


$6  80 

9  00 

500  00 

800  00 

9  30 

65  00 

70  00 


Average. 


$100  00 
7  50 
7  50 

6  60 

7  50 
450  00 
800  00 

9  00 
50  00 
60  00 
40  00 
40  00 

6  60 
15  00 

9  60 

6  60 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  in  all  kinds  of  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females  in  Sherbrooke. 

[Per  week  of  aicty  hours.  J 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Clerks per  annum..     $160  00 


Highest. 


$800  00 


Average. 


$420  00 


56  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  in  Sherirooke. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$5  00 

$12  00 

$8  00 

XL  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  St. 
■    Francis  district  with  board. 


Occapations. 

Lowest.     Highest. 

Average. 

$12  00 

$20  00 

$16  00 

XII.  Corporation  employi^s. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Sherirooke. 
[[Per  week  of  sixty  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest 


Average. 


Secretary  treasurer per  annum . . 

Chief  of  police  and  fire do 

rive  policemen per  week.. 

Five  firemen do 

Inspector  of  roads do 

Forty  laborers do 


$8  CO 
8  00 


$12  00 
12  00 


6  00 


7  50 


$1,  500  00 

*1,  200  00 

9  00 

9  00 

12  00 

6  75 


'With  honsc,  &e. 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  ^e, )  in  Sherbrooke. 


Occupation. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Printers 

$6  00 

$10  00 

$8  00 

LABOR    IN    NORTU    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


57 


STRATFORD. 

REPORT  BY  CONSULAR  AGENT  BENEDICT. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Stratford,  Ontario. 


Occupations. 


BUILDmS  TRADES. 


Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 
Masons 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Tenders... 
Plasterers 

Tenders. .. 
Roofers 

Tenders. . . 
Plumbers 

Assistants 

Carpenters 

Gas-litters 


OTHER  TRADES. 


Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Brickmakers 

Butchers 

Cabinet-makers 
Confectioners  .. 
Cigar-makers  ... 


Coopers  , 

Draj-men  and  teamsters. 

Furriers : 

Females 

Males 

Gardeners 

Horse  shoers 

Jewelers 


Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Millwrights 

Potters 


Printers 

Saddle  and  harness  makers . 
Tanners 


Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 
Tinsmiths 


$9  00 
7  50 
9  00 
7  50 

12  00 
7  50 

12  00 
7  50 

10  00 
3  00 
7  50 

10  00 


8  00 

7  50 

5  00 

10  50 

5  00 

7  50 

8  00 
7  00 
7  50 

6  00 

3  00 
10  00 

6  00 

7  50 

7  00 
6  00 

9  00 
6  00 
6  00 
6  00 
6  00 

8  00 
6  00 

9  00 


$15  00 

9  00 

15  00 

9  00 

18  00 

10  50 

12  00 
9  00 

14  00 
5  00 

13  50 

14  00 


12  00 

12  00 
7  70 

13  50 
10  00 
12  00 
IZ  00 
20  00 
12  00 

9  00 

5  00 
25  00 
10  50 
10  50 
12  00 

9  00 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 

7  50 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 


Average. 


$13  50 

7  50 
13  50 

7  50 
15  00 

9  00 
12  00 

7  50 
12  00 

4  00 
10  50 
12  00 


10  00 
9  00 

6  00 
12  00 

7  00 
9  00 

10  00 

12  OO 

10  50 

7  50 

3  50 
15  00 

7  50 

9  00 
10  00 

7  50 
10  50 

9  00 

7  50 

8  00 
7  50 

10  00 
10  00 
10  00 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Stratford,  Ontario. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.     Highest.   Average. 


Woolen  mill : 

Dyers 

Carders 

Carders,  boys  . . . 

Spinners 

Winders,  girls  . . 

Weavers 

Fullers , 

Finishers 

Engineer 

Flour  mills : 

Millers 

Packers 

Laborers 

Engineers 

Cabinet  shops: 

Cabinet-makers 

Upholsterers 

Finishers 


$7  50 

$12  00 

$9  00 

7  20 

10  50 

7  50 

2  40 

3  00 

2  70 

9  00  j 

10  50 

9  00 

2  40  i 

3  00 

2  70 

4  00  1 

7  50 

6  00 

7  20  ! 

7  50 

7  50 

9  00  , 

10  50 

9  00 
7  50 

9  00  j 

15  00 

12  00 

7  00  1 

7  50 

7  00 

6  00  ; 

7  50 

7  00 

7  00  1 

9  00 

8  00 

7  50 

12  00 

10  50 

7  50  I 

13  50 

10  50 

7  50  i 

9  00 

9  00 

68 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  tveek  of  fifty-four  to  sixty  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  andiron  works 

in  Stratford,  Ontario. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

▲verag*. 

Grand  Trunk  Railway  repair  shops. 

$9  72 
9  18 

11  34 
9  72 

11  88 

6  00 

9  00 
9  00 
9  00 
4  80 

7  50 

9  00 
10  50 
9  00 
6  00 
4  50 
6  00 

9  00 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 

$11  88 

13  50 

11  88 

9  72 

11  88 
6  00 

12  00 
12  00 
10  50 

6  75 
10  50 

16  50 
10  50 
10  50 

7  50 
16  50 
12  00 

10  50 
12  00 
10  50 
10  50 
12  00 

$11  34 
12  96 

11  34 

9  72 

11  88 

6  00 

Dominion  Agricultural  works. 

10  50 

10  50 

9  00 

5  40 

9  00 

Mill-furnishing  works. 

10  50 

10  50 

9  00 

6  00 

9  00 

7  50 

Iron  foundry. 

9  00 

10  50 

Blacksmiths 

9  00 

9  00 

10  50 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  U'eek  of  sixty  to  sixtx-five  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and 
females,  in  Stratford,  Ontario. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Clerks 

Groceries. 

$5  00 

5  00 

6  00 

7  00 

1  00 

6  00 

8  00 
3  00 

12  00 

6  00 

3  00 
6  00 

2  00 

6  00 

5  00 

5  00 

4  00 

10  00 

3  00 

7  00 

$9  00 

8  00 
12  00 

12  00 
3  00 

12  00 
12  00 

9  00 
20  00 

12  00 
6  00 

12  00 
6  00 

15  00 

12  00 

9  00 
10  00 

25  00 
5  00 

12  00 

$7  00 

Waresmen    

7  00 

Bookkeepers - 

8  00 

Watchmakers . . 

Jewelry,  watches,  and  clocks. 

10  00 

Apprentices 

1  50 

Clerks 

Men's  furnishing  and  clothing. 

9  00 

Tailors 

10  00 

5  00 

Cutters  -   ... 

15  00 

Clerks: 

Dry-goods  and  millinery. 

9  00 

Females 

4  00 

Milliuers 

9  00 

Trimmers 

4  50 

Bookkeepers 

10  00 

Clerks 

Hardware. 

8  00 

Clerks 

Hats,  boots  and  shoes,  and  furs. 

6  00 

Shoemakers 

8  00 

Furriers : 

Males 

15  00 

Females 

3  50 

Drug  clerks 

Drugs,  die. 

9  0« 

LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  59 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servatits  (towns  and  cities)  in  Stratford,  Ontario. 


Ocoapations. 


Private  residences : 

General  servant 

Cook 

Nurse  ^rls 

Hotels : 

Porters — 

Bell-boys 

Cooks : 

Waitresses  and  chamber  maids 


Lowest.  1 

$1  00   : 

6  00 

3  00  1 

12  00  i 

4  00  1 
8  00 

5  00 

Average. 


$9  00 
8  00 
5  00 

25  00 
7  00 
15  00 

7  00 


$7  00 
7  00 
4  00 

18  00 
6  00 

10  00 
6  OO 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  county  of  Perth, 
Ontario,  ivith  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


General  farm  bands per  year. 

Laborers,  during  harvest per  day. 

Servants,  female per  month.. 


Highest.    Average. 


$200  00 
2  25 
6  00 


$180  00 
1  75 
4  50 


XII.  Corporation  employi&s. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  town  of  Stratford,  Ontario. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Laborers 

per  week . . 

$6 

$10  50 

$7  50 
450  00 

Chief  of  police 

Nit;ht  police . 

do  .  - 

500  00 

.  do 

450  00 

do 

300  00 

do 

1,200  00 

Foreman  of  fire-brigade 

Tcwn  clerk 

do  ... 

200  00 

..     .                     do 

500  00 

Assessor 

do 

350  00 

Collector 

do 

300  00 

Treasurer  

An 

350  00 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

* 

800  00 

.................. ..::.ao..:: 

475  00 

do... 

250  00 

300  00 

275  00 

High  school : 

1,500  00 

1,  050  00 

1,  000  00 

700  00 

COUNTY  SCHOOLS. 

Teachers : 

Male -       

375  00 
200  00 

550  00 
375  00 

420  00 

Female 

300  00 

60  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices — exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers . 


Occupations. 


Collector  of  customs 

InRpector  of  customs 

Collector  of  internal  revenue. 
Clerk 


Lowest. 


Postmaster 

Post-office  clerks. 


Highest. 


$150 


$600 


Average. 


$1,200 
700 

1,200 
750 

2,000 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  shelving  the  wages  paid  pei-  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  ^-c. )  in  Stratford. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$6 

$10  50 

$7  50 

Retail  food  and  fuel  prices  in  Stratford,  Ontario,  May  1,  1884. 


Articles. 


Beef per  lb . 

Beef  (best  roasting  pieces)  .do. . . 

Mutton do... 

Lamb per  qnarter. 

Veal per  lb. 

Pork,  fresh do . . . 

Pork,  salt do. . . 

Bacon  and  ham do... 

Butter do... 

Lard do.. 

Commeal do... 

Oatmeal do. . . 

Flour per  100  lbs. 


Cost. 


$0  07  to  $0  15 

12 

7  to 

12* 

1  00  to 

1  50 

5  to 

12* 

10  to 

14 

14 

15 

16  to 

18 

14 

2  to 

2* 

3  to 

3* 

2  75  to 

3  10 

Articles. 


Cost. 


CoflFee,  green per  lb. 

Coffee,  roasted do . . . 

Tea do... 

Cheese do . . . 

Eggs do... 

Potatoes per  bush . 

Turkeys each. 

Geese  and  ducks do . . . 

Chickens per  pair. 

Wood,  soft per  cord. 

Wood,  hard do... 

Coal per  ton. 


$0  15  to  $0  20 

30  to 

40 

20  to 

80 

15  to 

16 

13  to 

14 

55  to 

60 

75  to 

1  75 

50  to 

75 

40  to 

60 

2  25  to 

2  75 

4  50  to 

5  00 

7  00  to 

7  50 

J.  S.  BENEDICT, 

Consular  Agent. 
United  States  Consular  Agency, 

Stratford,  May  19, 1884. 


TORONTO. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  HOWARD. 
RATE   OF  WAGES. 

The  rate  of  wages  paid  to  laborers  of  every  class  in  the  month  of  May 
of  the  present  year  is  given  in  the  tables  accompanying  this  report. 


COST   OF  LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  is  shown  to  some  extent  in 
the  tables  submitted  herewith.  The  table  containing  the  prices  for  the 
years  of  1877, 1878,  and  1884  shows  the  wholesale  prices  for  these  years, 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA.  61 

and  is  chiefly  valuable  for  the  purpose  of  comparing  the  cost  of  living 
one  year  with  another;  the  relative  cost  being  shown  as  well  by  wholesale 
as  retail  prices.  The  quotations  from  the  Saint  Lawrence  market  are 
retail  prices,  and  all  the  tables  are  for  the  middle  of  May  in  each  year. 
Keady-made  clothing  is  fully  as  cheap  now  as  in  1878.  Higher  class 
clothing  is  dearer,  and  domestic  cottons  are  dearer.  Boots  and  shoes 
are  no  more  expensive  now  than  in  1878.  Rent  has  not  advanced  much, 
if  any,  except,  possiblj',  in  the  higher  class  of  houses.  In  this  connec- 
tion it  may  be  well  to  remark  that  these  inquiries  are  of  special  force 
in  Canada,  for  the  reason  that  in  1878  the  national  policy,  so  called, 
or  the  policy  of  protecting  home  industries,  was  adopted  here,  and  the 
question  of  the  relative  advancement  of  the  price  of  labor  and  the  cost 
of  living  is  an  interesting  and  a  disputed  one.  It  will  be  seen,  by 
reference  to  the  tables,  that  meats  have  nearly  doubled  in  price.  This 
is  doubtless  due,  in  a  large  measure,  to  the  extensive  export  trade  to 
England  that  has  lately  sprung  up,  and  which  would  have  caused  an 
increase  in  prices  independently  of  the  national  policy.  It  will  also  be 
observed  that  there  is  a  sharp  decline  in  the  price  of  flour  and  some 
other  kinds  of  farinaceous  foods — in  the  price  of  sugar  aud  other  grocer- 
ies. It  must  be  concluded,  however,  that  as  compared  with  the  year 
1878,  the  cost  of  living,  as  a  whole,  has  considerably  advanced.  As 
compared  with  the  year  1877,  however,  the  prices  are  more  nearly  even. 
There  is  a  duty  of  50  cents  per  ton  on  coal,  and  as  the  coal  consumed 
in  this  part  of  Canada  comes  from  the  United  States,  the  price  of  fuel 
has  advanced  almost  directly  in  proportion  with  that  duty.  In  con- 
versation with  many  laboring  men  they  have  universally  stated  as  their 
impression  that  the  cost  of  living  has  advanced  out  of  all  proportion 
with  the  advance  of  wages.  As  one  man  put  it,  "To  get  along  as  easily 
now  as  I  did  in  reciprocity  times,  when  I  was  getting  $1.60  per  day,  I 
ought  now  to  be  getting  $3  per  day."  I  doubt,  however,  if  the  im- 
pressions of  these  men  are  to  be  relied  upon.  In  an  interval  of  even  ten 
years  the  average  man's  expenses  are  greatly  increased.  His  family  is 
larger  in  number,  or  older  in  years,  and  requires  more  monej*.  Besides, 
if  a  man  gets  $1.60  per  day  and  spends  it  all,  when  he  gets  $3  per 
day  and  spends  it  all  he  at  once  concludes  that  there  is  a  want  of 
proportion  somewhere.  And  the  laboring  men  here,  as  a  class,  spend  all 
they  earn.  It  is  evident,  at  all  events,  that  both  the  wages  in  Canada 
and  the  cost  of  living  have  advanced  since  1878,  and  the  tables  sub- 
mitted herewith  give  better  data  for  comparison  than  any  one's  impres- 
sions. 

COMPARISON   OF  WAGES. 

As  compared  with  1878,  wages  have  advanced  from  20  to  30  per  cent. 
The  conditions  affecting  the  labor  market  now  and  in  1878  are  very  dif- 
ferent. Then  the  wages  were  lower,  but  not  so  much  competition  was 
noticed  in  the  various  avocations  as  at  the  present  time.  Men  found 
employment  the  year  around.  Now  there  have  come  into  Canada  thou- 
sands of  Italians  aud  other  foreign  laborers  who  compete  with  the  na- 
tive Canadians  for  the  coarser  kinds  of  manual  labor  and  weaken  the 
price  of  mere  muscular  exertion,  while  hundreds  of  young  Englishmen 
seekiug  clerkshii)S,  mechanical  and  the  various  forms  of  lighter  manual 
labor  have,  by  crowding  the  market  with  men  eager  to  accept  any 
wages  for  a  temporary  expedient,  brought  down  also  the  price  of  skilled 
labor  to  a  minimum.  The  natural  flow  of  immigration  has  been  unduly 
stimulated  by  assisted  passages,  the  rivalry  of  transportation  lines,  and 
the  eftbrts  of  immigration  agents.     The  assisted  immigrants  have,  for 


62  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

the  most  part,  been  dwellers  in  cities,  and  when  they  reach  Canada 
gravitate  instinctively  into  the  cities  and  towns,  and  shun  the  lonesome 
fields  and  farms.  Thus  there  is  produced  in  all  the  large  cities  in  Can- 
ada a  plethora  of  labor,  which  shows  its  effect  not  so  much  in  smaller 
wages,  the  natural  result  of  competition,  as  in  keeping  down  the  natural 
and  even  increase  with  the  increased  cost  of  living,  which  the  advocates 
of  the  national  policy  reasonably  expected,  in  reduced  time  and  scarcity 
of  employment.  The  efforts  of  the  trades  unions  have  also  to  some  ex- 
tent counteracted  the  natural  effect  of  competition.  During  the  sum- 
mer there  is  usually  employment  for  all  who  are  determined  to  work, 
but  the  winter  soon  comes  with  enforced  idleness,  want,  and  distress. 
Last  winter  was  one  of  unusual  hardship  and  destitution,  demanding 
public  and  private  charity  to  prevent  absolute  starvation.  Soup  kitch- 
ens were  maintained  for  months  to  give  the  hungry  one  meagre  meal  a 
day,  and  various  schemes  were  devised  to  give  employment  to  those 
who  were  able  and  willing  to  work.  But  the  difficulty  of  carrying  on 
public  works  and  improvements  during  the  winter  months  in  this  cli- 
mate is  obvious,  and  resort  was  had  to  j^rivate  benevolence  rather  than 
to  public  enterprises. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  laboring  classes  in  Toronto  and  in  Ontario  differ  but  little  from 
those  of  corresponding  classes  in  the  United  States.  There  is  about 
the  same  proportion  of  saving  and  improvident,  of  temperate  and  in- 
temjjerate,  of  virtuous  and  vicious.  I  think  there  is  more  time  given 
to  recreation  and  more  money  spent  on  amusements  here,  and  that 
intemperance  is  the  vice  that  steals  away  the  savings  and  destroys 
the  comfort  of  the  homes.  There  are  licensed  saloons  on  every  corner, 
and  I  think  the  drinking  habit  is  much  more  common  than  with  us. 
Whisky,  gin,  and  brandy  are  so  cheap  that  even  the  poorest  man  can 
indulge  in  a  drunk  at  a  very  trifling  expense,  and  so  easily  obtained  that 
a  drunken  woman  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon  sight,  and  children 
easily  learn  to  taste  and  tipple.  All  this  might  be  said  of  an  American 
city  of  equal  size,  to  our  shame.  It  is  quite  apparent  to  my  mind  that 
the  laboring  classes  do  not  own  their  own  homes  to  the  same  extent 
that  the  same  classes  do  in  the  United  States,  and  that  the  almost  uni- 
versal ambition  of  the  American  laborer  to  possess  the  title  to  his  own 
house  and  lot  is  largely  wanting  here.  The  absence  of  this  incentive 
to  saving  may  account  for  much  of  the  recklessness  and  apathy  that 
one  sees  among  the  working  classes  in  Canada.  As  a  class  I  should 
say  that  they  are  honest  and  faithful,  but  more  plodding  and  less  am- 
bitious than  the  same  classes  with  us.  The  hope  of  bettering  their  con- 
dition or  the  desire  to  give  their  children  a  better  position  in  life  than 
their  own  seems  to  me  to  be  less  a  vital  and  constant  force  than  with 
the  working  classes  in  the  United  States.  The  cause  of  this  is  due  in 
large  measure,  I  believe,  to  the  old-country  idea  of  the  son  walking  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  father,  inheriting  his  social  position  and  his  trade, 
and  therewith  being  content.  A  man  is  a  " gentleman"  here  by  act  of 
Parliament. 

employ:^  and  employer. 

The  relation  between  the  laborers  and  their  employers  is  purely  self- 
ish— each  looking  out  for  what  he  supposes  to  be  his  individual  interest 
without  very  much  consideration  of  the  idea  that  their  interests  are  in 
any  degree  mutual.     The  laborer  aims  to  give  as  little  work  as  possible 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  63 

for  his  wages  aud  the  employer  designs  to  give  as  little  wages  as  pos- 
sible for  his  work.  This  feeling  has  undoubtedly  been  fostered  by  labor 
organizations,  counter  organizations  of  capital,  strikes,  surrenders,  or 
compromises.  These  contests  have  an  accelerating  tendency  to  reduce 
the  problem  of  labor  and  capital  to  an  inhuman  question  of  pure  polit- 
ical economy,  and  the  law  of  supply  aud  demand  finds  an  excuse  for 
amending  the  golden  rule.  So  that  when  business  is  dull  aud  times  are 
slack  the  emi)loyer  discharges  his  employes  or  cuts  down  their  wages 
without  compunction  because  when  business  was  active,  when  orders 
were  brisk  and  labor  had  capital  ou  the  hip,  it  exacted  the  utmost  far- 
thing. All  this  creates  au  antagonism  between  labor  and  capital,  and 
more  and  more  crushes  out  all  faithfulness  and  loyalty — all  sentiment, 
sympathj',  or  pity.  Except  for  a  few  philanthropists,  the  employers 
have  no  consideration  for  the  moral  or  intellectual  improvement  of  the 
laboring  classes,  and  the  general  feeling  is  that  there  is  very  little  in 
common  between  them. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS. 

Nearly  every  leading  industry  or  trade  has  its  union.  These  unions 
are  productive  of  some  good  in  redressing  the  absolute  wrongs  of  the 
working  classes  and  in  promoting  unity  of  action,  community  of  inter- 
est, fostering  mutual  aid,  and  to  some  extent  in  stimulating  thought, 
though  in  many  cases  wrong  thinking  rather  than  right.  On  the  other 
hand  it  is  questionable  if  these  labor  organizations  do  not  intensify  the 
natural  antagonisms  between  labor  and  capital,  foster  unnecessary  class 
distinctions,  encourage  foolish  struggles  against  the  laws  of  trade,  and 
often  serve  as  an  excuse  for  the  tyranny  of  capital.  The  trades  unions 
have  forced  capital,  in  its  turn,  to  organize,  and  in  nearly  all  lines  of  in- 
dustry there  are  here  powerful  counter  organizations  of  employers,  and 
as  business  has  been  for  some  time  in  Canada  a  lock-out,  even  though 
it  may  end  in  an  advance  of  wages,  has  been  on  the  whole  an  advantage 
to  the  employers,  while  the  trifling  increase  of  wages,  finally  temporarily 
secured,  has  poorly  compensated  the  workmen  for  weeks  of  enforced 
idleness.  Strikes  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  it  is  the  general  tes- 
timony of  all  classes  that  the  strikers  usually  carry  their  point  as  far  as 
the  bare  demand  is  concerned.  Many  of  these  unions  have  a  large  re- 
serve fund  upon  which  they  can  draw  while  the  strike  continues,  and 
are  also  usually  assisted  by  kindred  unions.  I  am  not  aware  that  ar- 
bitration by  reference  of  the  cause  of  difference  to  a  third  party  is  prev- 
alent, although  in  some  organizations  there  is  a  provision  for  such  a 
method  of  settlement. 

LIBERTY   OF   TRADE. 

The  working  people  are  free  to  purchase  their  supplies  where  they 
please,  A  few  years  ago  it  was  customary  to  i)ay  laborers  one-half  in 
money  and  one-half  in  store  orders,  but  that  practice  has  been  abolished 
and  all  are  paid  in  the  paper  and  silver  currency  of  the  country  and 
usually  every  Saturday,  though  some  pay  on  Monday,  thinking  it  better 
for  the  men,  and  that  the  money  will  be  less  likely  to  be  squandered. 
Few  employers,  however,  take  sufficient  interest  in  their  employes  to 
adopt  this  system,  and  many  workingmen  would  resent  the  attempt. 
Saturday  afternoon  is  largely  given  up  to  recreation,  all  the  banks  and 
most  of  the  business  houses  being  closed. 


64  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

CO-OPEBATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

There  are  in  Toronto  two  regular  co-operative  societies  witli  branch 
stores,  besides  a  bakers'  co-operative  society  and  a  co-operative  sewing 
machine  society.  The  first  society  of  this  kind  was  started  in  1877,  and 
is  modeled  upon  the  English  co-operative  system.  Each  member  sub- 
scribes for  two  shares  of  capital  stock  of  $5  each.  A  board  of  directors 
and  other  officers  are  elected.  Goods  are  purchased  and  sold  to  mem- 
bers and  others  at  the  same  price  at  which  goods  of  the  same  quality 
are  sold  in  other  stores.  At  the  end  of  six  months  the  expenses  are 
computed,  such  as  cost  of  goods,  rent,  wages,  taxes,  and  as  part  of  the 
expenses  a  certain  rate  of  interest  on  the  share  capital  is  allowed.  If 
there  is  then  any  balance,  a  dividend  is  declared  and  paid  upon  the 
amount  each  member  has  traded  at  the  store.  The  first  society  started 
here  has  been  quite  successful.  They  have  paid  8  per  cent  upon  their 
share  capital  and  some  years  have  declared  a  dividend  as  high  as 
17  per  cent.  There  is  no  effort  directly  made  to  sell  goods  at  a  lower 
price  than  other  dealers,  and  indeed  I  have  an  impression  that  some 
things  often  cost  the  members  more  than  if  purchased  elsewhere,  but 
the  advantage  is  supposed  to  be  in  the  interest  on  the  share  capital  and 
the  dividend  upon  the  amount  of  the  individual  purchase.  One  real 
advantage  and  merit  of  these  societies  is  their  teaching  of  business 
methods  and  the  encouragement  they  offer  to  habits  of  saving.  They 
urge  their  members  to  leave  their  dividends  in  the  treasury  of  the  society 
at  interest,  and  in  that  way  become  a  kind  of  savings  institutions  for 
small  sums.  They  foster  industry,  economy,  and  the  satisfaction  ot 
accumulating  something  for  a  rainy  day.  They  also  make  some  effort 
for  the  intellectual  growth  of  their  members.  There  are  about  one 
thousand  members  of  the  different  societies  in  this  city.  They  have  had 
no  effect  on  general  trade. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING  PEOPLE. 

Of  course,  in  such  a  country  as  Canada,  comparatively  new  as  it  is, 
and  in  such  a  city  as  Toronto,  growing  steadily,  if  not  rapidly,  the 
general  condition  of  the  masses  differs  but  little  from  the  condition  of 
the  same  classes  in  the  United  States.  Their  methods  of  life,  their 
homes,  their  food,  their  clothes  are  all  similar  to  those  of  the  working- 
people  across  the  line,  varying,  as  among  us,  with  nationality,  habits, 
amount  of  income,  education,  and  general  character.  As  I  have  before 
remarked,  there  seems  to  be  less  personal  ambition  among  the  working 
classes  here — less  push  and  nerve,  less  desire  to  rise  in  the  world,  less 
hope  of  wealth,  less  determination  to  "  succeed,"  more  lethargy,  more 
acquiescence  in  fate,  more  torpor.  Consequently  there  is  less  chance 
of  bettering  their  condition,  subjectively.  Objectively,  the  traditions 
of  society  and  the  conservative  habits  of  business  aiein  the  way;  wages 
are  too  low,  taking  the  year  together;  business  too  dull  and  slow;  for- 
eign laborers  too  eager  to  work  for  bread  alone.  All  these  things  are 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  laboring  men  bettering  their  condition,  and 
their  ability  to  lay  up  something  for  a  rainy  day  or  for  old  age  is 
bounded  by  the  narrow  rim  of  their  daily  toil,  which  gathers  through  the 
short  summer  but  barely  enough,  and  often  not  enough,  to  take  them 
meagerly  through  the  long  winter.  Physically,  the  Canadian  people 
are  fine,  strong  specimens  of  mankind,  healthy  and  robust.  There  is, 
however,  less  nimbleness  and  dexterity  among  the  workingmeu  than 
is  seen  among  the  native  Americans,  and  the  Canadians  will  be  a  week 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  65 

at  a  job  that  the  same  number  of  Americans  would  have  accorapb'shed 
in  half  the  time.  It  woukl  be  stron<j:,  howerer,  when  completed,  per- 
haps unncessarily  strong.  JMorally,  the  working  classes  jiartake  of  the 
general  character  of  the  mixed  Anglo  Saxon  and  Keltic  races  the  world 
over.  Vice  and  crime  have  jibou  1 1  lie  same  percentage  here  as  in  the  West- 
ern cities  of  the  same  size  in  the  lJnite<l  States,  and,  as  in  the  United  States, 
are  chiefly  due  to  rum.  Clieaj)  whisky  and  a  low  license  law,  houses  of 
ill-fame,  })romiscuous  public  dances,  vicious  and  demoralizing  anuise- 
ments,  brutal  contests  of  strength  and  endurance — these  are  the  evil  influ- 
ences that  surround  the  comujon  peo])le — these  the  enemies  that  exist  for 
them  at  the  street  corners  and  in  the  alleys,  that  otter  to  satisfy  the  uni- 
versal human  demand  for  amusenu^nt  and  entertainment,  and  which  will- 
continue  to  charm  and  brutalize  and  destroy  until  some  more  powerful  in- 
tlnence  for  good,  recognizing  the  facts  of  human  nature,  i)rovides  am 
antidote.  Reading  rooms  and  libraries,  free  to  all,  have  been  this  year 
established  and  are  doing  a  good  woik.  But  it  is  to  be  considered  that 
peo])le  who  need  u])lifting  most  are  not  readers  and  are  not  attracted  by 
such  things  as  books  and  newspapers.  Several  ])hilanthro])ic  men  in 
Toronto — notably  Mr.  W.  11.  Rowland — have  done  and  are  doing  much 
to  improve  the  conditions  of  the  lower  classes.  Cotfee-houses,  where 
cheap  and  clean  food,  served  in  atmosi)here  of  physical  and  moral  clean- 
liness, have  been  established  in  ditterent  sections  of  the  city,  and  «ome 
attempts  have  been  made  to  provide  cheap  and  ])ure  amusements  to 
the  working  ])eople.  But  the  great  defect  in  this  has  been  that  all 
their  ettorts  have  flown  too  high.  The  promoters  have  ignored  theflut- 
terings  of  moral  and  intellectual  infancy.  They  have  advertised  amuse- 
ments and  given  a  lecture  on  astronomy;  they  have  given  notice  of  a 
free  entertainment  and  furnished  Beethoven  piano  recitals.  Still  the 
intention  has  been  good,  if  not  wisely  executed;  and  has  done  tlie  pro- 
moters good,  if  it  has  failed  to  toucii  the  people  for  whom  the  efforts 
were  made. 

MEANS   OF   SAFETY. 

The  means  furnished  for  fire-escapes  are  chiefly  gravitation,  which 
has  the  merit  of  cheapness.  With  few  exceptions  the  only  fire-escapes 
in  factories  and  large  buildings  are  the  windows  and  an  unobstructed 
passage  to  the  ground.  On  the  li-ith  day  of  last  May  the  Mail  newspa- 
per building,  in  which  are  the  offices  of  this  consulate,  caught  tire.  The 
tire  ran  swiftly  up  the  elevator  about  which  the  stairs  were  constructed, 
and  then  spread  rapidly  through  the  top  of  the  building  where  about 
twenty-tive  girls  w^ere  usually  employed.  It  being  a  holiday  only  six 
girls  were  there.  Their  exit  from  the  building  was  completely  cut  off 
via  the  stairs  and  elevator,  and  they  made  their  perilous  passage  from 
the  fifth  story  window  by  walking  along  a  narrow  gutter  a  hundred 
feet  al)Ove  the  i)avement  to  the  end  of  the  building,  whence  they  es- 
caped by  a  ladder  to  a  contiguous  structure  and  thence  to  the  ground. 
Had  the  usual  number  of  girls  been  jiresent  or  had  there  been  any  hes- 
itation on  the  part  of  their  rescuers  there  would  inevitably'  have  been 
a  panic  and  disaster.  As  it  was,  the  girls  were  with  difficulty  re- 
strained irom  throwing  themselves  into  the  street.  This  was  a  new 
building,  constructed  upon  a  modern  i)lan  at  great  expense,  and  with 
a  few  exceptions  was  as  well  equipped  with  tire-escapes  as  any  building 
in  the  city.  As  far  as  I  know  there  is  no  ])rovision  made  by  employers 
for  work-people  in  case  of  accident,  and  the  general  hosi)ital,  which  is 
provided  at  the  public  expense,  is  the  only  resort  for  the  wounded.  On 
the  2d  of  January  last  a  frightful  accident  occurred  to  a  suburban  train 
92  A— 2  LAB 5 


6Q  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA 

loaded  with  operatives  employed  in  tbe  bolt-works  about  5  miles  from 
the  city,  by  which  about  thirty  men  and  boys  lost  their  lives.  The 
wounded  were  taken  to  the  hospital.  The  city  and  the  public  contrib- 
uted with  j^reat  liberality  for  the  assistance  of  the  families  of  the  unfort- 
unates, and  the  Grand  Trunk  Eailway  Company  paid  out  $70,000  in 
settlement  of  claims. 

GENERAL   RELATIONS  BETWEEN  MEN. 

Little,  if  any,  consideration  is  given  by  the  employers  of  labor  to  the 
moral  and  physical  well-being  of  their  workmen,  and  when  there  is  it 
is  not  because  of  anj-  recognition  of  their  duty  as  employers.  The  gen- 
eral relation  prevailing  between  the  two  classes  is  purely  •'i^i'^ctical." 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

The  right  of  suffrage  is  granted  to  all  native  or  naturalized  citizens 
of  Canada  who  are  freeholders  or  householders,  to  those  haviug  an  in- 
come of  $400  per  year,  and  to  farmers'  sons  living  at  home.  Taxation 
is  based  upon  practically  the  same  conditions.  Until  recentb^  legisla- 
tion has  been  in  the  interest  of  capital  rather  than  of  labor,  but  the  la- 
boring man  is  coming  to  be  more  and  more  regarded  in  legislation, 
though  if  the  interests  of  capital  and  labor  should  conflict  doubtless 
the  interests  of  capital  would  be  first  considered.  A  large  class  of  la- 
boring men  are  now  without  the  franchise,  but  all  indications  point  to 
an  early  broadening  of  the  right  of  suffrage,  and  when  that  time  comes 
it  is  presumed  the  rights  of  laboring  men  will  receive  their  proper  con- 
sideration. 

•     EMIGRATION. 

The  causes  that  lead  the  Canadians  to  emigrwte  to  the  United  States 
are,  in  the  first  instance,  purely  business  and  commercial  interests. 
They  think  they  can  better  their  condition,  make  more  money,  secure  a 
home.  To  a  large  extent  the  emigrant  who  is  successful  induces  his 
relatives  and  friends  to  join  him.  Neither  political  nor  governmental 
ideas  have  any  influence  upon  emigration  from  Canada.  The  occupa- 
tion of  the  emigrants  is  various.  Many  business  men  with  a  small  capi- 
tal seek  the  United  States;  many  young  men  with  business  training; 
many  common  laborers.  But  probably  by  far  the  largest  class  are  farm- 
ers and  mechanics. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

The  number  of  women  and  children  employed  in  the  various  indus- 
trial pursuits  in  this  consular  district  is  approximately  stated  below : 

Manufiicturiug  and  mecliauical 3,  500 

Coniniercial,  &c 1,  000 

Professioual .' 500 

WAGES. 

The  rate  of  wages,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  is  as  follows : 
Minimum,  $1.50  per  week  ;  maximum,  $20  ;  average,  $5. 

HOURS   OF   LABOR. 

The  hours  of  labor  varj' .  In  factories,  mills,  and  shops  working  on 
full  time  the  usual  day's  work  is  ten  hours.  In  retail  stores  the  duties 
commence  at  about  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  continue  often  to  mid- 
night.    In  offices  the  time  is  usually  less  than  ten  hours. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  67 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL   CONDITION. 

The  working  women  of  Toronto  are  generally  intelligent,  virtuous,  and 
respectaltle.  Tbey  are  not  the  people  who  appear  in  police  courts  or  are 
found  in  dance-kouses  and  in  slums.  Doubtless  they  partake  to  some  ex- 
tent of  the  general  character  of  their  individual  surroundings,  but  as  a  rule 
thej'  are  women  who  are  trying  to  liveclean  and  honestlives.  There  is  the 
same  idiotic  idea  among  the  higher  classes  here  that  may  possibly  prevail 
in  some  circles  in  the  United  States,  that  work  is  degrading  to  a  woman; 
and  1  am  told  that  even  school-teachers  are  not  good  enough  for  the 
"  best  society  "  here.  Among  the  coarser  kinds  of  labor,  as  in  mills  and 
factories,  the  women  are  overworked.  A  right  amount  of  labor  ennobles 
and  dignifies;  too  greal  a  burden  deadens  and  brutalizes,  and  in  the 
more  menial  employments  tlie  women  show  in  their  faces  the  marks  of 
excessive  labor,  a  lack  of  proper  nutrition,  and  the  benumbing  effects 
of  hopeless  toil. 

SANITARY  MEASURES. 

The  work-rooms  of  those  who  ply  the  needle  and  the  mills  and  factories 
where  women  work  are  often  vilely  ventilated,  poorly  lighted,  and  im- 
properly heated.  Xo  provisions,  other  than  such  as  common  decency 
demands,  has  been  made  by  employers,  except  in  a  few  instances,  in  re- 
gard to  sanitary  measures,  and  none  whatever,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  for 
the  care  of  the  sick  and  disabled. 

WAGES   OF   WOMEN. 

There  has  been  an  increase  during  the  past  five  years  in  women's  wages," 
but  less  relatively  than  in  wages  paid  to  men,  while  the  price  of  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life  has  advanced  alike  for  all  classes.  Where  women  liave 
comi)eted  directly  for  men's  work,  as  in  the  case  of  bookkeepers,  type- 
writers, short-hand  writers,  telegraph  operators,  clerks,  &c.,  wages  have 
diminished  for  that  class  of  labor — that  is  to  say,  women  receive  less 
money  than  men  for  doing  the  same  work  equally  well,  and  the  knowl- 
edge that  this  is  so  and  that  women  will  work  for  less  than  men  is 
taken  advantage  of  by  employers  to  reduce  the  wages  of  men  engaged 
in  the  same  class  of  work.  , 

EDUCATION. 

The  education  of  working- women  varies,  of  course,  among  the  differ- 
ent classes;  the  higher  grades,  demanding  a  higher  degree  of  intelli- 
gence, have  a  higher  degree  of  education.  But  even  among  the  lower 
class  of  laboring  women  there  are  comparatively  few  natives  of  the 
Province  of  Ontario  that  cannot  read  and  write.  Their  children  have 
the  advantages  of  free  schools  and  generally  attend  them. 

EFFECTS   OF   EMPLOYMENT. 

Tlie  effect  of  the  employment  of  mothers  in  mills,  stores,  and  factories 
is  bad  as  regards  the  familj-.  j\Iost  of  these  women  are  obliged  to  per- 
form their  domestic  duties  in  addition  to  the  work  of  the  day — prepare 
food  for  themselves  and  their  families  in  the  morning  before  starting 
for  their  work,  give  such  attention  to  the  house  as  their  time  will  jier- 
mit,  and  complete  the  absolutely  necessary  duties  upon  their  return  ex- 


68 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


hausted  from  their  day's  toil  abroad.  They  eat  a  cold  and  meager  lunch 
at  noon  and  at  night  consume  a  hastily-prepared  and  ill-cooked  supper. 
During  the  day  the  younger  children  are  carried  with  them  to  their 
work,  left  in  the  careless  charge  of  older  ones,  or  turned  loose  in  the 
streets.  Overworked  mothers  produce  weak  and  sickly  children,  and 
those  naturally  robust  become  lean  and  wan  from  insufficient  or  unsuit- 
able food.  The  want  of  a  mother's  companionship  and  care  early  hard- 
ens the  child  to  the  necessities  of  its  life,  and  the  vicious  associations  of 
the  street  sow  in  fruitful  soil  the  seeds  of  vice  and  crime.  The  jaded, 
discouraged,  perplexed,  and  hopeless  women  often  seek  temporary  relief 
and  oblivion  in  the  rum  bottle,  and  the  children  have  that  added  to 
their  other  dangers  and  temptations.  The  life  of  the  poor,  especially 
in  the  cities,  is  full  of  hardship  and  want  and  wretchedness,  and  for 
which  they  can  tind  no  help.  They  were  born,  and  they  must  work  or 
die.  The  unmarried  women  have  a  freer  and  less  wearisome  life,  but 
they  are  slaves  in  many  cases  to  the  avarice  and  cold-blooded  selfish- 
ness of  their  employers.  Girls  working  in  stores  and  shops  are  obliged 
to  work  till  late  at  night,  and  are  required  to  stand  upon  their  feet  be- 
hind counters  where  there  is  little  movement,  which  is  the  most  weari- 
some of  iill  work,  and  this  constant  standing  still,  much  more  danger- 
ous to  health  than  walking,  often  brings  on  those  diseases  peculiar  to 
women  and  a  train  of  incurable  evils. 

CONCLUSION. 

From  what  has  been  said  it  will  be  observed  that  the  condition  of 
labor  in  Canada  is  very  similar  to  that  in  the  United  States.  Many  evils 
that  prevail  in  Canada  prevail  also  there ;  many  rights  and  advantages 
enjoyed  there  are  also  blessings  here.  The  people  themselves  are  not 
dissimilar.  Their  origin,  their  si)eech,  their  laws,  their  customs,  and 
their  sturdy*,  industrious  character  are  the  marks  of  a  kindred  race. 

WALTER  E.  HOWARD, 

Consul. 

Consulate  of  the  United  States, 

Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  June  10,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Toronto. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

$10  00 
9  50 

10  50 
9  50 

15  00 
9  60 

12  00 
9  50 
7  50 

10  50 
1  50 
9  00 

10  50 

$10  50 

9  50 
10  50 

9  50 
15  00 
10  80 
12  00 
10  50 

7  75 
15  00 

5  00 
15  00 
15  00 

$10  00 

9  50 

10  50 

9  50 

15  00 

Tenders 

10  20 

Slaters  

12  00 

10  00 

7  50 

12  00 

150  to  5  00 

12  00 

Gas-fitters 

12  00 

LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  69 

Wagefi  jyaid  iier  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Torox^o— Contimiefl. 


Occupations. 


OTHER  TRADES. 


Lowest.  I  Highest,  j  Average. 


B.ikers  .  . . 
Blacksmiths  . 
Strikers  . . 
Brick-inakers. 
Bookbinders.. 
Brewers 


Butcliers 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

Distillers 

Drivers: 

Diayman  and  teamsters. 

Cab  and  carriage 

Street  railways 

Dyers    

Engravers 

Furriers 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

Horseshoei-s  

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Lithographers 

Piinters . 


Teachers  jiublic  schools : 
Counties 


Cities 

Towns 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 


$6  00 
9  00 

6  00  [ 
10  00  ' 

9  00  I 

7  00  ' 
7  00  1 

10  00  : 

6  00  ' 

7  00 
9  00 
9  00  I 

8  00 
8  00  1 

8  00 
G  00 
6  00  ■ 

12  00  ' 
6  00 

9  00 
6  00 
8  00 

8  00 

10  00 

11  00 

-120  00 

*400  00 

*240  00 

9  00 


$12  00 
10  00 

7  00 
20  00 
18  00 

9  00 
10  00 

15  00 
13  Ou 

13  00 

16  00 
18  00 

9  00 
9  00 

8  50 
15  00 
22  00 
25  00 
10  50 
20  00 

9  00 
20  00 
10  00 
40  00 
15  00 

900  00 
1, 100  00 
1,  000  00 

14  00 


$10  00 
9  00 
6  00 

14  00 

15  00 
8  00 
8  50 

10  00 

11  00 

12  00 
12  00 

14  00 

8  00 
8  00 

8  00 

11  00 
20  00 

15  00 

9  00 

12  00 
9  00 

15  00 

8  00 
35  00 

11  00 

385  00 
742  00 
576  00 

12  00 
12  00 
12  00 
15  00 

9  00 


*  Per  annum. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  in  factories  or  mills  in  Toronto,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


CORSET  FACTORY.* 

Steam  stitchers,  &c.  (girls) per  week. 

Label-marking do  .. 

KNITTING  FACTORY. 

Knitters,  girls do... 

Small  girls,  ordinary  work do . . . 

Overseers,  women do  . . 

Finishers do  .. 

30(M8  FLOUR  MILLS.) 

Head  millers per  month. 

Assista-  t  millers do  .. 

Weighmen do. . . 

Teamsters do... 


$2  50 
3  00 


2  00 

1  00 
5  00 

2  00 


90  00 
40  00 
35  00 
35  00 


$12  00 
3  00 


6  00 
1  50 
6  00 
4  00 


110  00 
50  00 
45  00 
40  00 


$4  75 
3  00 


5  00 
1  00 
5  00 
i  00 


100  00 

45  00 

35  00 

35  00 


*  Fifty-four  hours  per  week. 


Sixty  hours  per  week. 


70 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  day  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  ivorls  in  Toronto,  Canada. 


[Week  of  fifty-four  hours.] 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$1  25 

1  50 

2  25 
2  25 
1  25 
1  75 
1  75 
1  75 
1  00 

$2  50 

1  75 

2  50 
2  50 

1  50 

2  25 
2  25 
2  25 
1  40 

$2  00 

1  50 

2  25 

2  25 

1  25 

1  75 

1  75 

2  00 

1  25 

VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  employes  {tliose  engaged  about  staHons,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  curs,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  t)'c. )  in  Toronto. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.  I  Highest.    Average. 


Ballasting:  and  track- work per  day. 

Kejrular  trackmen do. .. 

Smiths do... 

Smiths'  helpers do. .. 

Carpenters  do  — 

Enpine  drivers,  freight per  month. 

Engine  dri  vers,  passenger do . . . 

Firemen do . . . 

Engine  fitters  per  day. 

Engine  clciiners do . . . 

General  laborers do. .. 

Conductors,  passenger do . . . 

Conductors,  freight - do... 

Brakemen ^ do. .. 

Baggagemen do... 


$1  25 
1  10 
1  75 
1  25 
1  60 

80  GO 
lOO  00 

45  00 

1  80 

90 

1  00 

2  23 
2  15 
1  55 
1  90 


$1  OO 

1  10 

1  75 

1  25 

1  50 

70  00 

90  00 

45  00 

1  80 

90 

1  00 

1  75 

1  75 

1  30 

1  90 


Mileage  base  for  drivers :  25  miles,  one-quarter  of  a  day ;  50  miles,  one-half  of  a  day  ;  75  miles,  three- 
quarters  of  a  day ;  100  miles,  one  day.  All  fractions  over  the  quarters  count  in  favor  of  the  drivers  to 
make  up  one-half,  three-quarters,  or  whole  day ;  for  instance,  26  miles  counts  one-half  a  day,  &c. 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  seamen  (officers  and  men)  on  Lake  Ontario. 


Occup  itions. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$1  25 
60  00 
50  00 
16  00 
16  00 

$1  50 
100  00 
70  00 
25  00 
25  00 

$1  25 

Masters 

per  month . . 

do 

75  00 
60  00 

do.... 

20  00 

do... 

20  00 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  jiaid per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  retail  stores  to  males  and  females,   in   Toronto, 

Canada. 


Occupations. 


Shop  girls  in  store,  counter 
Shop  men  in  store,  counter. 

Dressmakers,  women 

Tailoring,  girls 

Tailors,  men 

Messengers , 


Lowest. 


.$4  00 
8  00 
4  00 
3  00 
8  00 
2  50 


Highest. 


$10  00 
15  00 

6  00 
10  00 
18  00 

6  25 


Average. 


$7  00 
10  00 

5  00 

6  00 
12  00 

6  00 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  in  Toronto,  Canada. 


71 


Nurse  girls 

General  servants. . . 

Cooks 

Parlor  luaids 

Men,  general  work . 
Grooms 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.  I  Average. 


$2  00 

7  00 

8  00  I 
6  00  ! 

15  00  ! 
30  00 


$5  00 
10  00 
10  00 
8  00 
30  00 
45  00 


$4  00 

8  00 

9  00 
7  00 

25  00 
40  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

TVayes  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  Toronto  district 

with  board. 


Occupations. 

First-class  farm  hands per  year.. 

Ordinary  farm  hands do     .. 

Farm  hands per  month.. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


$200  00 
i 1        150  00 

$15  00  i      $30  00  25  00 


XII.  Corporation  employ.6s. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Toronto,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


TREASUREU  6   DEPARTMEXT. 


City  treasurer 

jissi.stant  citv  treasurer 
Clerks " 


CITY  CLERK  S  DEPARTSIEXT. 


City  clerk 

Assistant  city  clerk . 
Clerks 


CITir  ENGINEER  8  DEPARTMENT. 


City  engineer 

Assi.slant  city  engineer 

Clerks ' 

City  solicitor's  clerk  . . . 


Lowest.    Highest.  Average. 


.$3,  550  00     $3,  500  00 
'  2,  000  00  '     2,  000  00 
$720  00     1,  500  00       1,  200  00 


2,  000  00 
1,200  00 
400  00         800  00 


'  2,800  00 

I  1,200  00 

720  00  1, 100  00 
600  00 


WATEE-WOEKS  DEPARTMENT. 

Secretary  and  receiver 1, 100  00 

Accountant  and  receiver , 1,  050  00 


ENGINEER  AND  RATKG  BRANCH. 


Clerks 

City  auditors 

Tax  collectors 

Assessment  commissioner. 
Assessment  clerks 


590  00 


500  00 


450  00 


Governor 

Deputy  governor 

Physician 

Clerks,  turnkeys,  watchmen,  <fcc. 


THE  CITY  SCALES. 


Weighmastor 

Caretaker  of  market,  including  attendance  at  scales. 
Market  constable 


1,  300  00 
1,100  00 

787  50 
1,600  00 

800  00 


1,  500  00 


800  00 

1,  000  00 

280  00  ]  1,  000  00 


2,  000  00 

1,200  00 

500  00 


2,  800  00 

1,  200  oO 

1,  000  00 

000  00 


1, 100  00 
1,  050  00 


800  00 
1, 100  00 

600  00 
1,  600  00 

600  00 


1,  500  00 
800  00 

1,  000  00 
450  00 


1,  000  00 
520  00 
500  00 


72  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices  (exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers)  in  Toronto,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


EDUCATION  DEPAUTMEXT. 


Chief  clerk  and  accountant . 

Clerks 

MesscDger 

Caretaker 


CROWN  LANDS  DEPARTMENT. 


Clerks 


Clerks 


SECRETARY  AND  REGISTKAE  DEPARTMENT. 


$250  00 


LEGISLATION. 


Clerk  of  the  House 

Assistant  clerk  of  the  House 

Libiarian 

Assistant  librarian 

Clerks 


800  00 


800  00 


$1,300  00 

1,  250  00 

3G5  00 

500  00 


1,  700  00 


400  00 


Average. 


$1,  300  00 

1,  050  00 

365  00 

500  00 


1,  200  00 


1,  800  00 
400  00 

1,  200  00 
400  00 

1, 800  00 

1,400  00 

1,  400  00 

700  00 

600  00 

1,800  00 

1,400  00 

1,400  00 

700  00 

500  00 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor— Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  year  to  the  trades  and  laborers  in  Government  employ  in  Toronto,  Canada, 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


GOVERNMENT  HOUSE. 


Messengers 

Gardener  and  caretaker 

Fireinau  and  assistant  gardener 

Assistant  gardeners  and  caretakers. 

Messengers  in  the  civil  service 

Night  watchmen 


$350  00 


$480  00 

$480  00 

450  00 

450  00 

550  00 

550  00 

400  00 

400  00 

500  00 

350  00 

450  00 

450  00 

XY.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  ivages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-four  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  ^-c.)  in  Toronto,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Compositors 

$11  00 

7  00 

10  00 

1  50 

1  50 

$12  00 
15  00 
15  00 
6  00 
2  00 
12  00 
12  00 
8  00 

$11  00 
12  00 

Pressrai'n 

Proof-readers 

12  00 

Apprentices 

Messaije  boys 

Canvasser..' 

Traveler 

Shipping  clerk 

6  00 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

FOOD  PRICES. 

Retail  prices  of  produce  at  Saint  Lawrence  market,  Toronto. 


73 


Articles. 


Price. 


Beef,  roast per  ponnd . 

Sirloin  steak do. .. 

Kound  sti-ak do... 

Mutton,  le^s  and  chops do. . . 

Interior  cuts do. .. 

Lamb do. .. 

Veal,  l)pst  joints do . . . 

Veal,  inferior  cuts do... 

Pork,  chops  and  roasts do. .  - 

Butter : 

Pound  rolls do. .. 

Larue  rolls do . . . 

Cooking do  . . 

Lard do . . . 

Cheese,  new do... 


$0  11  to$0 

14 

14  to 

IG 

11  to 

13 

13  to 

1.') 

9  to 

11 

15  to 

17 

13  to 

14 

9  to 

10 

11  to 

12 

14  to 

17 

13  to 

14 

10  to 

11 

13  to 

14 

12  to 

14 

Articles. 


Price. 


Bacon per  pound. 

Egys per  dozen. 

Turkeys  

Cliickeus per  pair. 

Potatoes per  bnshtl. 

Dnious per  peck. 

Parsnips do . . . 

Beets do. .. 

Carrots do. .. 

Beans per  bushel . 

Turnips do  .. 

Asparagus per  dozen. 

Rbubarb do... 

Radishes do     . 

Spinach per  bai  rel . 


.i  $0  11  to$0  U 

14  to 

15 

.   2  GO  to  3 
G5  to 

on 

90 

60  to 

65 

40  to 

45 

20  to 

25 

20 

20 

.   1  20  to  1 

50 

35  to 

40 

30  to 

40 

15  to 

20 

30  to 

35 

40  to 

45 

Statement  showing  difference  hetioe.en  cost  of  living  in  1877-'78-'84. 


Articles. 


Value  1877. 


Value  1878. 


Value  1884. 


Dressed  hogs per  100  pounds . 

Beef,  hind  quarters do... 

Mutton do 

Butter per  pound. 

Eggs per  dozen . 

Apples per  barrel . 

Potetoes per  bushel. 

Onions do.  -. 

Turnips do . . . 

Parsnips do... 

Flour : 

Sup.  extra per  barrel. 

BSg  Extra do . . . 

^^  Spring  extra do.. . 

"^  No.  1  superfine do . . . 

Oatmeal do. .. 

Cornuieal do  . . 

Sugar per  pound . 

Coflee do . . . 

Tea do... 

Fish,  cod » per  112  pounds. 

Raisins per  pound. 

Kice 


Simps per  gallon. 

Chee.se per  pound. 

Bacon do . . . 

Hams : 

(,      Smoked do... 

"^Pickled do... 

Lard do. .. 

Apples,  dried do . . . 

Co.il : 

Large  egg per  ton. 

Small  egg do... 

"Wood  : 

Hard per  cord. 

f     Pine do... 


$7  00  to  $7  75 

6  00  to  7  00 

7  00  to  8  50 
23  to  25 
11 

2  50  to  3  25 

90  to  1  00 

90  to  1  00 

30  to  35 

55  to  70 


11 
10 

lOJto 
5Ho 


5  50 
5  50 


5  50 
4  50 


8  75   to  9  00 

8  25   to  8  50 

7  50    to  7  80 
6  75 
6  00 

3  50   to  3  60 

9|to  12i 

22  to  34 

26  to  75 

5  50  to  5  75 

3  to  lOJ 

4  60  to  5  00 
54  to  75 
14 

8Jto  10  J 


12 
6i 


$5  50  to  $6  00 

4  00  to  5  00 

8  00  to  9  00 

17  to  18 

11 

4  00  to  4  50 

30  to  40 

85  to  90 

25  to  30 

30  to  40 


5  50  to 
5  10  to 
4  50  to 

3  90  to 

4  00  to 
2  65 

7Jto 
21  to 
25  to 

5  00  to 

4  to 

4  50  to 
45  to 
Hi  to 

6Jt0 

9  to 
7  to 
84  to 
G  to 

5  50 
5  50 

5  50 
4  50 


5  75 
5  20 
4  75 
4  10 

4  10 

11 
30 
70 

5  25 

8 

4  75 

65 

13 

71 

10 

8 
10 


$8  00  to  $8  25 

10  00  toll  00 

8  50  to  10  00 

19  to   21 

15  to   16 

3  50  to  4  25 

50  to   60 

90  to  1  00 

30  to   40 

65  to   80 


5  00  to 

4  65  to 

4  35  to 

3  73  to 

4  25  to 
3  50 

5it  to 
25' to 

20  to 

5  50  to 

5  to 

3  65  to 

30  to 
10 

11  to 

10  to 

7  to 

14 
8Jto 

6  25 
6  25 


4  50  to  5  50 
4  00 


5  25 
4  80 
4  50 
4  00 
4  50 

9 
50 
90 

6  00 

6 

3  90 

70 

14 

U 
9 


74 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


WINDSOR. 


REFORT  BY  CONSUL  UWERS. 


RATES   OF   WAGES. 


The  rates  of  wages  paid  to  laborers  of  every  class — mechanical,  min- 
ing, factory,  public  works,  and  railway,  domestic,  agricultural — are  given 
in  the  tables  herewith. 

COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life  do  not  vary  greatly  in  Windsor 
from  those  prevaihng  in  Detroit,  just  across  the  border  on  the  American 
side.  There  was  formerly  considerable  business  done  here  in  ready- 
made  clothing  of  the  cheaper  grades,  but  this  has  now  almost  entirely 
disappeared,  workingmen  and  others  in  moderate  circumstances  finding 
that  they  can  buy  better  goods  at  much  lower  prices  in  Detroit.  Fine 
broadcloths,  imported  woolens,  and  silks  are  about  the  only  articles  of 
clothing  tbat  are  cheaper  on  this  side.  House-rent  for  working  people 
ranges  from  $6  to  $16  per  month. 

The  following  list  will  give  a  fair  idea  of  the  prevailing  prices  for  arti- 
cles of  food,  viz: 


Articles. 


Flour per  bbl . . 

Butter per  lb.. 

Tea do 

Sugar do. . . 

Rice do 

Tobacco do 

Currants do 

Starch do 

'  Beefsteak do 

Beef,  roast do 

Beef,  corned  do 

Beef,  for  soup do 

Mutton  log  do 

Mutton  shoulder do 

Mutton  chops do 

Mutton  carcass do 


Cost. 


00  to  $6  25 

20 

25  to        50 

7  to  8 

5 

50 


10  to 

10  to 

6  to 

6  to 


Articles. 


Mutton,  stewing per  lb. 

Corn-meal do. . . 

Eggs per  doz. 

Coffee per  lb . 

Oat-meal do .  - . 

Crackers do. .. 

Raisins do. .. 

Lard do. .. 

Pork,  roast per  lb. 

Pork  chops do... 

Pork,  salt do. .. 

Ham do . . . 

Shoulder do. . . 

Bacon do... 


124;   Veal. do. 


Cost. 


07  to  $0  08 
2i 
16 

25 

f 

6 

U 

10  to 

12 

10  to 
10  to 

124 
12 

16 

n 

u 

8  to 

15 

Board  in  private  families  can  be  had  at  $3  and  $3.50  per  week,  and 
in  hotels  at  from  $3.50  to  $9  and  $12  per  week. 

WAGES  PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

There  has  been  a  slight  advance  in  the  price  of  labor  since  1878,  fol- 
lowing the  advance  on  the  other  side  of  the  border. 

HABITS   OF   THE   AVORKING   CLASSES. 


As  a  general  rule,  the  laboring  classes  here  are  sober  and  industrious. 
A  considerable  number  of  thera  are  negroes,  being  those,  and  the  de- 
scendants of  those,  who  came  here  for  refnge  in  slavery  days.  Some 
are  unthrifty,  and  spend  their  money  as  fast  or  faster  than  they  get  it. 
But  nearly  all  have  an  o})portunity,  by  frugality,  of  laying  up  something 
for  old  age.  Many  avail  themselves  of  the  Government  savings  system 
connected  with  the  post-office  department. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA.  75 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOY:^. 

There  are  very  few  institutions  here  where  many  men  are  employed, 
the  principal  one  being  a  distillery  and  works  connected  therewith, 
owned  and  operated  hy  an  American  citizen  and  resident  of  Detroit. 
In  this  and  the  other  institutions  here  a  good  feeling  prevails  between 
employers  and  employed,  manifested  by  continuous  service  of  employes 
and  by  presents  given  them  each  year  at  Christmas  time  by  employers. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS. 

There  are  no  labor  organizations  here,  but  Windsor  mechanics  par- 
take of  whatever  advantages  accrue  to  workingraen  in  Detroit  through 
labor  orgam'zations.  Employers  here  pay  without  question  the  scale  of 
wages  adopted  by  the  various  trades  unions  in  Detroit  and  in  vogue 
there. 

STRIKES. 

As  there  is  no  organization  in  labor,  there  are  no  strikes.  Windsor 
mechanics  are  content  to  let  their  Detroit  brethren  fight  the  battles, 
whde  they  (the  Windsor  mechanics)  reap  the  benefit  thereof.  It  is 
even  the  case,  in  certain  instances,  when  some  of  the  trades  in  Detroit 
have  been  "  out"  that  Windsor  mechanics  have  joined  with  those  of 
London,  Chatham,  and  other  parts  of  Canada,  and  taken  the  places  of 
the  striking  mechanics  in  Detroit. 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

They  are  free  to  purchase  where  they  please.     Hiram  Walker  has  a 
store  In  connection  with  his  large  distillery  interests,  but  imposes  no 
conditions  on  his  employes  to  purchase  therefrom.     Payments  are  made 
weekly  or  monthly  in  Canada  or  American  money,  both  being  current, 
here  at  their  face  value. 

CO- OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

There  are  no  cooperative  societies  in  Essex  County. 

GENERAL  CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING  PEOPLE. 

The  condition  of  the  working  people  in  Windsor  and  Walkerville  is 
one  of  comparative  independence.  They  all  claim  that  their  wages  (in- 
cluding those  of  clerks)  are  higher  here  than  in  any  other  part  of  Can- 
ada. They  attribute  this  state  of  things  to  their  close  proximity  to  a 
large  and  prosperous  American  city  (Dt-troit).  Indeed,  many  who  are 
residents  here  find  emi)loyment  on  the  other  side  of  the  river. 

A  careful  estimate  develops  the  fact  that  nearly  one-half  of  all  the 
wage-workers  of  Windsor  either  own  or  are  in  a  way  to  own  their  own 
homes.  This  is  not  the  case,  however,  in  Walkerville,  as  there  all  real 
property  is  owned  by  one  man,  who  will  not  sell,  but  leases  on  favorable 
terms  to  his  employes. 

Their  clothing,  as  before  mentioned,  is  mostly  purchased  in  Detroit, 
where  a  good  suit  of  clothes  can  be  bought  for  from  $10  to  $15. 
There  is  very  little  chance  for  a  working  man  to  rise  above  the  sphere 
in  life  he  has  chosen,  or  which  has  been  chosen  for  him,  but  there  are 


76  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

excelleut  ]iub]io  -schools  here,  and  he  cau  give  his  children  a  good  edu- 
cation. There  are  numerous  protective  societies  among  workiugmen, 
which  pay  something  in  case  of  death  or  accident. 

SAFETY  OF   EMPLOYES. 

No  special  means  of  safety,  except  fire-escapes  (in  one  or  two  in- 
stances), are  provided  for  employes  in  factories.  I  cannot  ascertain 
thateuii)loyers  give  themselves  any  special  concern  over  either  the  moral 
or  the  physical  condition  of  their  employes.  An  excei)tion,  i»erhaps, 
exists  in  the  case  of  the  American  distiller  before  mentioned,  who,  at 
his  own  expense,  built  a  church  opposite  his  distillery.  The  general 
relations  between  employers  and  employed  are  harmonious. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

The  elective  franchise  is  bestowed  only  on  those  who  pay  taxes  on  an 
assessed  valuation  of  $400  in  towns  and  cities,  and  on  $200  in  the  coun- 
try. This,  it  is  claimed,  gives  nearly  every  man  of  family  who  is  a  house- 
renter,  a  vote,  because  in  most  cases  the  renter  pays  the  taxes. 

It  was  through  the  influence  of  the  workingmeu's  votes  that  the 
policy  of  protection  was  adopted  by  the  Canadian  Government  six  years 
ago. 

There  is  very  little  special  legislation  in  regard  to  workingmen. 

There  is  a  law  as  to  mechanic's  liens. 

EMIGRATION. 

The  emigrants  from  Essex  County  are  mostly  farmers  who  are  seek- 
ing homes  in  the  Western  States.  A  belief  in  their  ability  to  do  better 
in  the  "  States"  influences  them.  Soni!^  are  mechanics,  who  have  secured 
permanent  work  in  Detroit,  or  in  some  of  the  cities  of  interior  Michigan. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

The  number  of  women  and  children  employed  in  Essex  County,  out- 
side of  their  homes,  is  so  small  that  no  statistics  of  any  value  can  be 
given  concerning  it. 

Many  young  women,  however,  whose  homes  are  in  Windsor,  find  em- 
ployment in  Detroit  as  saleswomen  and  workers  in  knitting  and  other 
factories.  A  great  many  women  and  children  throughout  the  country 
find  eniployinent  at  home  in  the  manufacture  of  straw  braid  for  hats. 

There  being  so  few  women  employed  in  factories,  &c.,  their  employ- 
ment has  no  visible  effect  on  the  wages  of  men. 

Canadian  girls  are  in  great  demand  in  Detroit  as  household  servants, 
in  which  cajjacity  they  receive  good  wages. 

This  demand  keeps  up  the  rate  of  wages  for  household  servants  in 
Windsor. 

CHARLES  EWERS, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

WindtiOVy  Ontario. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  in  Windsor. 
[Per  day  of  ten  hours.! 


77 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers per  day..  $3  50 

lloii-carriers do 1  50 

Masoii.s    do 3  00 

Tenders do \  50 

Plasterers do  ...  3  5a 

Tenders do 175 

Plumbers    .     do 1  75 

Assistants ilo 1  00 

Carpenters do  ..  2  00 

Gas-litters  do 1  75 

Helpers do 1  00 

OTHER  TKADES. 

Bakers do  ..  1  00 

Blacksmiths do.-..  1  00 

S  t  ri  k  ers do 1  25 

Butchers per  week..  *5  00 

Caliini-l-niakers per  day . .  1  00 

Confectioners • do 1  00 

Cijiar-makers per  week..  4  0(i 

Coopers  do 6  00 

Distillers per  day 2  00 

Drivers : 

Draymen  and  teamsters per  week..  6  00 

Street  railways per  day. .  tl  00 

Gardeners  J 

Horsoshoers do  . . 

Jewelers per  week. 

Laborers,  porters,  &c per  day. 

Printers per  week. 

Teat  hers  public  schools per  annum. 

Saddle  and  harness  makers per  week. 

Tailors do . . . 


Helpers do  .. 

Tele;;raph  operators per  month . 

Tinsmiths .* per  day. 


1  00 
8  00 
1  00 
7  00 

300  00 
6  00 

§10  00 

4  00 

25  00 

1  50 


$3  50 
1  75 
3  50 
1  50 
3  50 

1  75 

2  50 

1  50 

2  25 
2  50 
1  50 


2  00 
2  00 

1  25 
*10  00 

2  33 
2  00 

12  00 
12  00 
4  00 

8  00 
11  00 


Average. 


2  00 
15  00 

1  50 
14  00 

1,  280  00 

12  00 

§15  00 

6  00 

40  00 

2  00 


$3  50 
1  50 
3  25 
1  50 
3  50 

1  75 

2  00 

1  25 

2  00 
2  00 
1  25 


1  67 
1  50 

1  25 
*7  00 

2  00 
1  07 
7  00 

10  00 

3  50 

7  00 
tl  00 


1  50 
12  00 

1  25 

10  00 

425  00 

7  50 
§12  00 

5  00 
35  00 

1  75 


♦TVith  board.  t  Sixteen  hours  per  day. 

J  There  are  many  small  market  gardeners  in  the  vicinity  of  Sandwich  who  contnhnte  largely  to  sup- 
ply the  Detroit  market.  They  hire  no  labor,  however,  the  work  being  done  by  themselves  and  mem- 
oeVs  of  their  families. 

§  Piece  work.    • 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  in  factories  or  mills  in  Windsor  and  Walkerville,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Cigar  factory : 

$1  50 
4  00 
4  00 
8  00 

$6  00 

8  00 

12  00 

12  00 

$2  00 

5  15 

7  00 

10  00 

78  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

III.  Foundries,  machine  shops,  aNd  iron  works. 

Wages  2)aid  per  week  in  foundries,  machine  shops,  and  iron  ivorks  in   IVindsor,  Ontario, 

Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Iron  and  wire  workers: 

$3  00 

3  00 

12  00 

$18  00 
18  00 
12  00 

$10  00 

10  00 

12  00 

VI.  Eailway  employes. 


Wages  paid  to  railway  empJoy^s  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  4'C-)  i'»  Windsor,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.     Highest. 


Average. 


Engine  drivers per  month. . 

Firemen do 

"Wipers  in  shop do 

Fitters per  hour.. 

Car  repairers  outside do 

Car  repairers  in  shop do 

Car  examiners do 

Watclimen per  day.. 

Switchmen do   . . . 

Brakemen per  month. . 

Freisht  conductors do 

Passenger  conductors do  — 

Office  clerks do 

Bridge  men per  day. . 

Laborers do.... 

Several  large  steam  ferry-boats  are  operated  by  the  railway  companies 
in  carrying  cars  across  the  Detroit  River.  Wages  on  them  are  as 
follows : 

Captains per  annum.. 

Mates per  day . . 

En  uriueers  do 

Firemen    db 

Ship  carpenters do 

Deck  hands do 


$75  00 

46  00 

30  00 

23 

12J 

17^ 

15 

1  25 

1  75 

35  00 

65  00 

75  00 

35  00 

1  75 

1  25 


1,000  00 
2  50 
1  75 

1  50 

2  50 
1  15 


$130  00 
75  00 
30  00 

n 

12i 
17i 
18 

1  25 

2  25 
55  00 
80  00 
75  00 
65  00 

1  80 
a  25 


1,  200  00 

2  50 

3  00 

1  50 

2  75 
1  15 


$85  00 

68  00 

70  00 

30  00 

23 

12J 

m 

16i 

1  25 

2  00 
45  00 
70  00 
75  00 
50  00 

1  77 
1  25 


1, 100  00 
2  50 
2  25 

1  50 

2  60 
1  15 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  seventy  two  hours  in  stores,  icholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females, 
in  Windsor,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Clerks  and  salesmen : 

$10  00 

$15  00 

$12  00 

9  00  1        15  00 

12  00 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 


Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Essex  County,  On- 
tario, Canada,  with  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Female  household per  week. 

Farm  liaiids  (summer)  per  month. 

Farm  hands  (all  year)  do. .. 


Highest.    Average. 


$1  60 
17  00 
13  00 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  79 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  pe)' year  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Windsor,  Ontario,  Canada. 


OccnpationB. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$1,000  00 
400  00 

750  00 

*700  00 

t480  00 

1 

*And  fees. 

tThe  members  of  the  police  force  also  receive  two  suits  of  clothes  each  year,  and  an  overcoat  every 
two  years  from  the  city.    Also  fees  for  making  arrests,  which  makes  their  yearly  receipts  $600. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  employes  in  Government  depat'tments  and  offices — exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers — in  Windsor,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$116  66 
150  00 
133  33 

Average. 

$33  33 
18  33 
41  67 

$54  17 
70  75 

Inland  revenue 

Custom-bouse 

50  00 

XY.  Printers  and  PRiNTma  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  tveek  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  4'C.)  in  Windsor,  Ontario,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Compositors  . 
Pressmen  — 
Apprentices  . 

Reporters 

Proof-readers 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$7  00 
7  00 
3  00 
9  00 
7  00 

$14  00 

14  00 

4  00 

12  00 

14  00 

Average. 


$10  00 

10  00 

3  50 

10  00 

10  00 


PROTIKCE  OF  QUEBEC, 
MONTREAL. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL-GENERAL  STEARNS. 

lu  reply  to  your  circular,  under  date  of  February  15, 1884, 1  have  the 
honor  to  report  as  follows  : 

WAGES  PAST   AND  PRESENT. 

It  has  been  a  difQcult  matter  to  ascertain  the  actual  increase  or 
decrease,  if  any,  since  1878,  in  the  rates  of  wages  paid. 

I  do  not  learn  of  any  decrease  in  wages  from  those  paid  in  1878, 
except  in  the  case  of  sail-makers,  whose  wages  are  reported  to  be  about 
20  per  cent,  less  now  than  in  1878. 

The  cause  of  this  is  said  to  be  overproduction  and  the  falling  off  in 
the  shipi)iug  interests. 


80  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

The  majority  of  the  firms  and  manufacturers  called  upon  for  informa- 
tion state  that  the  rates  of  wages  in  most  of  the  trades  now  and  in  J 878 
are  about  the  same,  and  nearly  all  claimed  that  the  cost  of  living-  had 
advanced  about  10  per  cent.,  although  some  were  of  the  opinion  that  it 
had  advanced  20  or  25  per  cent. 

In  the  following  tirades,  however,  the  rates  of  wages  were  reported  to 
me  as  being  higher  than  in  1878,  to  wit : 

Per  cent. 

Metal  aTid  cement  rooiers ._ 10 

Plumbers,  gas  and  steam  tittei's abont..  20 

Beli-haugei's,  locksmiths,  aud  blacksmiths 15  to  20 

Brass- fonnders,  finishers,  &c about . .  20 

Horseshoers do 10 

Dyers do 10 

Printers 10  to  12^ 

Boiler-makers  (in  some  shops) 10  to  20 

Boot  and  shoe  makers  (in  factories) about. .  10 

Bo(di-binder8 do....  10 

Marble  and  stone-cutrer.s ., .   10  to  15 

Coopers about . .  20 

Cigar-makers,  about do 45 

In  some  branches  of  manufacture  wages  had  advanced  considerably 
beyond  these  rates  a  yeiw  or  two  ago,  but  owing  to  a  general  depres- 
sion in  business  at  the  present  time  they  have  receded. 

In  the  Protestant  public  schools  in  this  city  the  average  salary  paid 
to  a  male  teacher  is  $114,  and  to  a  female  teacher  $34  per  month  of  100 
hours.  About  six  years  ago  the  school  board,  in  consequence  of 
financial  depression  and  a  decrease  in  the  proceeds  of  the  school  tax, 
was  compelled  to  lower  the  scale  of  salaries  paid,  so  that  the  present 
scale  (the  one  given  above)  falls  short  by  about  $5  a  month  from  that 
which  obtained  in  1878.  There  are  at  present  twenty-three  male 
teachers  and  ninety  female  teachers  in  the  employ  of  the  Protestant 
board  of  school  commissioners  for  this  city.  The  cost  of  board  of 
teachers  is  stated  as  being  from  $10  to  $14  per  month.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  obtain  any  reliable  information  as  to  the  rate  of  wages  paid  to 
teachers  in  the  Catholic  schools  of  the  city,  but  as  they  are  generally 
ecclesiastics  the  average  salaries  paid  to  them  are  no  doubt  much  less 
than  in  the  Protestant  schools. 

In  comparing  the  present  rates  of  wages  and  cost  of  living  with  those 
in  1878,  tlie  following  facts  should  be  borne  in  mind  as  important  influ- 
ences affecting  both. 

In  1879  the  Dominion  of  Canada  adopted  a  protective  tariff  by  which 
the  rates  of  duties  on  almost  all  articles  were  largely  increased.  Man- 
ufacturing establishments  multiplied  all  over  the  country,  home  indus- 
tries expanded,  the  kinds  of  articles  manufactured  greatly  diversified, 
and  the  demand  for  skilled  labor,  and,  indeed,  all  kinds  of  labor,  in- 
creased ia  a  corresponding  ratio.  At  about  the  same  time  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Enilway  was  begun,  and  has  been  jnished 
forward  with  great  rajiidity,  offering  employment  to  large  numbers  of 
skilled  and  unskilled  laborers.  Since  1878  the  "  great  northwest  coun- 
try "  has  been  opened  to  settlement,  and  great  efforts  have  been  put 
forth  to  attract  emigrants  from  the  older  provinces  and  from  Europe. 

HABITS   OF   THE  WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  habits  of  the  working  classes  here  are  very  much  like  those  ot 
the  same  classes  in  the  United  States ;  there  is  a  fair  degree  of  provi- 
dence among  them,  aud  in  trustworthiness  and  steadiness  they  compare 


LABOR   IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  81 

favorably  with  their  fellows  across  the  line.  A  considerable  number 
of  the  lueclianics  and  the  ijreat  nisijority  of  the  unskilled  laborers  in 
this  city,  and  the  farm  hands  in  the  country  adjoining  it,  are  French 
Canadians;  they  area  liard-workinj:^,  economical  people,  who  live  very 
plainly,  rear  large  families,  contribute  largely  to  the  sui)i)ort  of  the 
church,  and  manage  to  lay  u])  something  from  their  small  earnings. 
There  are.  too,  in  this  city  a  large  body  of  Irish,  who  are,  most  of  them, 
laborers  of  one  kind  and  anotlier.  The  meclianics  are  in  general — 
although,  of  course,  there  are  many  excei)tions — not  of  the  highest  chiss 
in  i)oint  of  skill,  the  best  workmeu  being  drawn  off  by  higher  wages  to 
the  United  States. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER   AND   EMPLOY^. 

The  feeling  which  prevails  between  employe  and  employer  is,  so  far 
as  I  know,  generally  very  ])leasant  and  harmonious.  There  has  been 
for  a  few  years  i)ast  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with  domestic  servants,  es- 
I)ecialiy  the  female  portion,  who  have  been  very  independent  in  their 
ways  and  very  inefScient  and  unsatisfiictory  in  their  work. 

LABOR  ORGANIZATION. 

There  has  been  in  the  past  very  little  tendency  on  the  part  of  labor 
to  organize,  and  but  few  of  the  mechanics  and  employes  in  the  various 
branches  of  trade  and  manufacture  in  this  city  are  members  of  trades 
unions  or  similar  societies.  The  coopers  and  cigar-makers  are  notable 
exce])tions  to  the  general  rule  in  this  respect.  In  the  printing  ottices, 
both  union  and  non-union  men  aie  emi)loyed,  and  no  distinction  is  made 
between  them  on  the  part  of  the  proi)rietors,  or  insisted  upon  on  the  i)art 
of  the  men.  On  the  other  hand  there  are  lew  organizations  of  capital 
except  in  one  or  two  trades  where  the  various  large  establishments  have 
associated  themselves  together  to  resist  strikes  and  for  mutual  help  in 
their  relations  towards  their  employes. 

STRIKES. 

Very  few  strikes  have  occurred  among  the  mechanics  and  laborers  in 
this  city  during  the  ])ast  few  years,  and  where  they  have  occurred,  in 
nearly  every  instance  the  employes  have  been  compelled  to  submit  to 
the  terms  of  their  em[)loyers.  In  the  great  strike  of  telegrai)h  opera- 
tors last  year  those  in  this  city  took  i)art  and  shared  the  fate  of  their 
co-strikers  in  other  parts  of  the  continent. 

FOOD  PURCHASES. 

The  working  people  are  generally  free  to  i)urcha8e  the  necessaries  of 
li^e  where  they  choose,  and  only  in  rare  cases  do  the  employers  impose 
conditions  in  this  regard. 

The  laborer  is  i)aid  weekly  or  monthly,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  for 
the  most  part  in  cash  in  the  currency  of  the  country',  which  is  similar 
in  value  and  kind  to  that  in  the  United  States. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

There  are  many  associations  composed  wholly  or  in  part  of  the  labor- 
ing classes,  but  they  are  generally  national  or  religious  societies  havng 
for  their  object  mutual  aid  in  times  of  sickness  or  distress,  or  the  culti- 
92  A— 2  LAB G 


82  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

vation  of  closer  social  relations.  There  is  one  co-operative  society,  so 
called,  in  the  city,  which  has  taken  the  form  of  a  lar^e  grocery  and 
dry  goods  store.  It  is  a  stock  concern  and  claims  to  sell  to  its  stock- 
holders and  subscribers  at  an  advance  upon  cost  only  snfiicient  to  pay 
expenses  and  a  fair  dividend  upon  its  stock.  Its  nominal  capital  is 
divided  into  a  large  number  of  shares  of  the  par  value  of  $5,  but  I 
understand  a  considerable  part  of  it  has  not  been  taken  up.  Sub- 
scribers are  admitted  to  the  advantages  of  the  society  upon  payment 
of  $1  per  annum.  All  sales  are  for  cash.  It  is  largely  used  by  the 
rich  and  middle  classes,  but  my  impression  is  it  receives  very  little  pat- 
ronage from  mechanics  and  laborers.  It  has  had,  however,  the  effect  of 
reducing  prices  somewhat  in  the  ordinary  stores.  It  has  once  failed 
and  been  reorganiz;'d,  and  it  is  generally  understood  that  it  is  not  now 
very  firmly  established  and  is  not  profitable  to  the  stockholders. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE  WORKING  CLASSES. 

The  general  condition  of  the  working  i)eople  in  this  city  is  quite  up 
to  the  average  in  the  United  States.  I  have  selected,  as  I  was  directed 
to  do  by  your  circular,  a  workingman  whom  I  thought  fairly  represen- 
tative, and  have  asked  him  the  questions  suggested  by  you.  There  are 
comparatively  few  large  tenement  houses,  but  there  are  many  smaller 
ones  capable  of  containing  two  or  three  families.  A  considerable  part 
of  the  laboring  population,  especially  the  French  Canadians,  dwell  in 
small  houses,  a  story  or  a  story  and  a  half  high,  either  in  the  city  or  in 
the  outlying  municipalities,  of  which  there  are  a  number  immediately 
adjoining  the  city. 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  Montreal  Horticultural  Society  considera- 
ble interest  has  been  excited  in  the  cultivation  of  flowers  and  plants 
and  the  windows  and  small  door-plats  of  even  the  poorest  are  often 
filled  with  geraniums,  verbenas,  and  similar  bright  flowers.  The 
Mountain  Park,  whicij  can  be  easily  reached  on  foot,  and  Saint  Helen's 
Island,  to  which  a  ferry-boat  carries  pleasure  seekers  for  a  small  toll, 
are  much  frequented  by  the  laboring  classes,  and  furnish  a  means  of 
health  and  amusement. 

The  poor  and  sick  are  looked  after  by  the  various  charitable  societies, 
the  ecclesiastical  institutions,  the  Roman  Catholic  brotherhood  and  sis- 
terhood, the  church  organizations,  &c.  There  is  a  flourishing  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  and  societies  for  the  prevention  of  cruelty 
to  women  and  children,  who  are  active  in  their  efibrts  to  secure  both 
classes  against  oppression  and  to  ameliorate  their  condition.  Temper- 
ance societies  are  numerousj  and  great  efibrts  are  made  both  by  Roman 
Catholics  and  Protestants  to  i)ut  down  drunkenness  among  all  classes 
and  restrict  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors. 

There  are  two  or  three  savings  banks  in  this  city,  and  there  is  a  Gov- 
ernment savings  bank  in  connection  with  the  post  office-department. 
The  character  and  amount  of  deposits  indicate  a  very  satisfactory 
tendency  among  the  working  classes  towards  the  laying  up  of  money. 

SAFETY    OF   EMPLOYl^S. 

The  laws  require  that  the  large  buildings  shall  be  provided  with  tire 
escapes  and  be  built  of  brick  or  stone. 

In  some  of  the  factories  the  hoistways  have  autom.atically-acting  doors, 
and  sprinklers  for  use  in  case  of  fire  are  arranged  at  frequent  intervals 
on  every  floor. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  83 

In  one  at  least  of  the  largest  cotton-mills  medical  attendance  is  fur- 
nished by  the  owners,  each  operative  bein<?  assessed  10  cents  a  month 
therefor.  A  number  of  those  employing  many  hands  give  them  an  ex- 
cursion once  or  twice  during  the  summer.  It  is  becoming  more  and 
more  the  custom  in  all  branches  of  l)usiness  to  close  early  on  Saturday 
and  give  the  employes  a  half  holiday  on  that  day.  In  the  course  of  the 
year  there  are  a  goodly  number  of  feast,  or  holy,  days,  upon  which  the 
Koman  Catholic  portion  of  the  community  abstain,  so  far  as  they  are 
able,  from  work. 

CAUSES   OF  EMIGRATION. 

Emigration  from  this  part  of  the  province  of  Quebec  is  either  to  the 
northwestern  jiortion  of  (Janada  or  to  the  United  States.  The  emigrants 
to  the  United  States  are  principally  French  Canadians,  who  go  to  the 
manufacturing  cities  of  New  England  to  find  employment  in  the  mills 
and  workshops.  They  generally  take  their  families  with  them,  that 
they  may  utilize  the  labor  of  all  who  are  old  enough  to  work,  and  many 
of  them  go  with  the  idea  of  returning  when  they  have  accumulated 
something.  In  times  past  many  have  returned  and,  buying  farms  in 
the  places  from  which  they  originally  went  forth,  have  enjoj-ed  the 
fruits  of  their  hard  and  confining  work  in  the  mills  in  the  comparative 
comfort  of  farm -life  here  ;  but  of  late  fewer  of  those  who  go  return  to 
their  old  lioaies  and  more  settle  j)ermanentl.y  in  the  United  States.  The 
emigrants  to  the  Northwest,  on  the  other  hand,  are  for  the  most  part 
English-s^ieaking  people  of  Scotch,  English,  and  Irish  origin,  who  hope 
to  better  their  condition  in  a  newer  country. 

NUMBER  OF  EMPLOYED  FEMALES. 

I  do  not  think  it  i)ossible — I  certainly  have  not  been  able  to  obtain 
the  information  that  would  enable  me — to  answer  with  any  degree  of 
fullness  or  accuracy  the  questions  asked  in  regard  to  female  labor. 

In  the  cotton-mills,  of  which  there  are  several  in  this  district,  a  large 
nnmber  of  women  are  employed.  There  are  also  a  few  in  the  printing 
establishments  and  newspaper  offices  and  in  the  boot  and  shoe  and 
clothing  manufactories.  In  the  retail  dry  goods  and  fancy  stores  it  is 
quite  common  to  employ  female  hands,  and  so  in  the  restaurants  and 
small  hotels.  ]\Iost  of  the  lauiidrying  is  done  by  women,  and  there  are 
many  female  teachers  in  the  jjublic  schools,  both  Protestant  and  Koman 
Catholic.  The  great  religious  houses  are  full  of  "  sisters,"  who  do  sew- 
ing, act  as  nurses,  &c.    There  are  no  females  in  any  of  the  professions. 

WAGES  AND  HOURS  OF  ^ABOR. 

The  wages  paid  vary  according  to  the  work.  The  hours  of  labor  cor- 
respond with  those  of  males.  In  the  retail  stores  attendance  from  7  in 
the  morning  until  G  at  night  is  required,  and  the  hours  in  the  trades  are 
about  the  same.  There  is  in  all  cases  a  noon  intermission  for  rest  and 
refreshment. 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL   CONDITION   OF  FEMALE  EMPLOYES. 

The  remarks  made  under  the  head  of  male  labor  in  regard  to  the 
moral  and  physical  condition  of  the  employes,  the  means  provided  in 
cases  of  fire  and  other  danger,  for  their  safety,  the  provisions  made  by 
the  employes  in  regard  to  sanitary  measures,  and  for  the  care  of  the 
sick  and  disabled,  will  apply  equally  well  to  female  laborers  of  every 
kind. 


84 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


FEMALE  WAGES  PAST   AND  PRESENT. 

It  is  only  within  tbe  past  few  years  that  women  have  been  employed 
to  any  great  extent,  and  a  comparison  of  wajres  paid  them  now  and  five 
years  ago  is  not  jjossible.  I  do  not  think  their  employment  has  had 
any  a])preciable  effect  on  the  wages  paid  men,  or  the  general,  social, 
and  industrial  conditions. 

EDUCATION   OF  FEMALE   EMPLOY^IS. 

The  schools  here  are  fairly  good,  and  the  attendance  upon  them  is 
quite  geneial,  so  that  the  female  emjjloy^s  have  Kufiicient  education  to 
perform  their  duties  satisfactorily.  Very  few  children  are  employed  in 
the  large  establishments.  There  are  no  laws  which  regulate  their  em- 
ployment, although  an  effort  was  made  last  year  to  secure  the  passage 
of  an  act  for  that  i)urpose. 

SEAEGENT  P.  STEARNS, 

Consul-  General. 
United  States  Consulate-General, 

Montreal^  July  1,  3884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  in  the  cittj  and  district  of  Montreal. 


Occupations. 

Hours. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average, 

BUILDIXG  TRADES. 

60 
60 
60 
CO 
60 
00 
60 
60 
60 
60 

60 
60 
CO 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 
CO 

60 
CO 
60 
CO 

60 
60 

60 
60 
60 
00 
60 
CO 
00 
60 

$21  CO 

18  00 

6  90 

10  50 

9  00 

6  60 

13  50 

15  00 

6  60 
10  50 

9  00 

7  (10 
7  50 
7  00 
9  00 
2  00 
7  50 
9  00 

12  00 

7  00 
10  50 

9  00 
10  00 

7  00 
2  00 

C  00 
10  75 
6  00 

6  00 

7  00 
6  00 
9  00 

ffoo 

$21  00 

18  00 

9  00 

18  00 

12  00 
9  00 

13  50 
15  00 

9  00 
13  50 

15  00 
9  00 

12  00 
9  00 

13  00 

4  00 
15  00 
13  00 

19  50 

12  00 
15  00 
15  00 

13  50 

12  00 

5  00 

9  00 
10  75 
9  00 
9  00 
15  00 

14  00 

15  00 
15  00 

$21  00 

18  00 

7  50 

12  00 

10  50 

8  40 

13  50 

15  00 

8  40 

12  00 

Eoofers: 

Metal 

10  80 

7  50 

9  00 

7  50 

11  00 

3  00 

10  50 

11  00 

^Electricians  and  bell-haugers 

13  50 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers: 

9  00 

12  00 

10  50 

11  00 

Book-biiidei's: 

Males 

10  00 

Kenmlee 

Brewiis: 

3  38 
«  75 

10  75 

BottU-rs 

7  50 

6  75 

Bnfclit-rs 

10  50 

9  00 

11  00 

CoufectiouerB' 

0  00 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

Wages  2>aid  per  week  in  the  city  and  district  of  Montreal — Coutiaued. 


85 


Occupations. 


Otheb  TBADB8— Continned. 
Cigar-makers: 

Males    

Feiiiiilt's 

Coopers  (ximiraer) 

Coopers  (wiuter)  

Coiipers  uiuployed  iu  sugar  refineries 

Drivf  rs : 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab  and  caniago 

Street  railway  employ68: 

Coiuluctui'S 

Drivers 

St.iblemen 

Track  nit-u 

Car-biiildcrs 

Blacksniiilis 

Horseslioera 

Painters 

Dyers,  iiiales 

Dyers,  helpers,  males 

Dyers,  helpers,  ^irls  and  boys 

En>;raver8: 

Jewelers 

Watch-makers 

Work  in  jr  jewelers 

Engravers,  lithographic: 

Stone  and  copper- plate - 

Steam  press  printers 

Furriers : 

Males 

Females 

Gardeners 

Hatters : 

Males 

Fetnales 

Horseshoer^ 

Laborers,  jiorters,  <fec 

Millwriglits 

Printers,  newspaper  ofiices : 

Compositors: 

Males , 

Females , 

Proof-readers 

Pressmen , 

Printers,  job  oitices : 

Compositors  : 

Males , 

Females 

Pressmen  

Teachers,  public  schools : 

Males 

Females 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sail-makers 

Stevedores : 

T?immers 

Employed  on  docks 

Tanners    , 

Tanners,  curriers 

Tailors : 

Cutters,  custom  work 

Cutters,  shop  work   

Journe vnien   

Telejiraph  operators  

Telegraph  operators,  apprentices  just  completed  their  time 

Tinsmiths    

Marble  cutters,  common  work 

Granite  cutters 

Liniest<me  cutters 

Marble  and  stonecutters,  artists , 


Ho 


nrs. 


Lowest. 


60 
60 
60 
60 
60 

60 
72 

87§ 

87i 

874 

60 

60 

60 

60 

60 

60 

60 

60 


58i 
584 
584 
584 


584 
584 
584 


(*) 
(*) 


60 
60 
60 
60 
60 


60 

10  00 

60 

10  00 

60 

7  00 

60 

12  00 

5* 

10  00 

60 

4  00 

60 

2  00 

60 

0  00 

60 

7  00 

60 

3  00 

60 

8  00 

60 

6  00 

60 

10  00 

6  00 
4  00 
3  00 
10  00 


0  00 
3  00 
9  00 

t50  00 
t24  00 

6  00 

7  00 

9  00 
9  00 
7  00 
9  00 

12  00 
12  00 
9  00 
t30  00 
tl5  00 

6  00 

7  50 
12  00 

9  00 
18  00 


Highest. 


$9  00 

3  00 
12  00 
10  50 
10  50 

6  00 
8  00 

7  00 
7  00 

7  00 
6  00 

8  00 
8  00 
8  00 

8  00 

9  00 

4  00 
3  00 


$10  00 

7  00 
12  00 
10  50 
10  50 

9  00 
10  50 

8  00 
8  00 

7  00 
6  GO 

12  00 
10  01) 
JO  00 
10  00 
15  00 

8  00 
6  00 

18  00 
18  00 
20  00 

25  00 
15  00 

15  00 

8  00 

9  00 

15  00 
6  00 

10  00 
9  00 

18  00 


17  00 

14  00 
12  00 

15  00 


12  00 

8  00 
12  00 

t220  00 
t9a  01) 
15  00 
10  00 

21  00 
15  00 

9  00 
12  00 

35  00 
20  00 

14  00 
170  00 
tI5  00 

12  00 
12  00 
18  00 

15  00 
60  00 


'  100  hours  per  month. 


t  Per  month. 


86  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

\ 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  the  city  of  Montreal,  Canada. 


Occapations. 


Lowest.    Highest, 


BOOT  AND  SHOE   FACTORIES. 

Cutters 

Lasters 

Peggers  and  sole  sewers 

rinishers  and  buffers 

Heelers 

Buinisliers 

Edge  setters 

!Fitters  and  closers,  females 

Table  hands,  females 

CLOTHING  ESTABLISHMENTS. 

Machine  operators,  females 

Finishers,  females 

Cutters 

Ready-made  clothing.* 

Sack  overcoats,  line each 

Sack  overcoats,  cheap do.. 

Broadcluth  frock  coats do.. 

('assimere  business  coats do.. 

Cassimere  sack  coats do.. 

"Vests,  woolen do.. 

Pantaloons per  pair 

Shirts,  woolen per  dozen 

Custom-made  clothing. 

Sack  overcoats ^. each 

Broadcloth  dress  coats ! .do.. 

Cassimera  busine.ss  coats do. 

Cassimere  sack  coats do.. 

Vests do.. 

Pauf  aloons per  pair 

Shirts per  dozen 


$6  00 

6  00 
8  00 

7  00 
6  00 

6  00 

7  00 
2  50 
1  50 


3  00 
3  00 
12  00 


2  00 

1  20 

2  50 
1  50 
1  50 

40 

35 

1  40 


5  CO 

6  00 
2  50 
2  00 
1  00 
1  00 
6  00 


$9  00 

10  00 

10  00 

15  00 

9  00 

9  00 

10  00 

6  00 

3  00 


8  00 
6  00 
20  00 


2  00 


1  20 

2  50 
1  50 
1  50 

40 
35 

3  00 


5  00 

6  00 
4  50 
3  75 
1  00 
1  00 
6  00 


$8  00 

8  00 

9  00 
10  50 

8  00 

8  00 

9  00 
4  50 
2  50 


5  00 
4  50 
15  00 


2  00 

1  2C 

2  50 
1  50 
1  50 

40 

35 

1  75 


5  00 

6  00 
3  .50 
2  75 
1  00 
1  00 
6  00 


*  Outside  piecework  for  females. 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  tcorks,  in  Mon- 
treal, Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Iron  mold ers 

$6  00 

6  50 

7  00 
9  00 

10  00 
C  00 
7  00 
9  00 
7  00 
6  50 
9  00 
6  00 

$15  00 

12  00 
15  00 
18  00 

13  00 

14  00 
14  00 
12  00 
11  50 

14  50 

15  00 
8  50 

$10  00 
9  00 

Machinists  ..    .    .          

10  50 

Boilermakers 

10  50 

Blacksniitlis 

11  00 

Brass  niolders 

9  00 

10  00 

Platers,  silver 

10  50 

Buffers      

10  00 

Tt)le;xrapb  instrument  makers 

11  00 

10  50 

Laborers  or  helpers  in  shops 

7  00 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


87 


VI.    KAILWAY   EMPLOYl^S. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  employes  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on  the 
e7tgines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  4c.),  in  Montreal. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


A<;entiS  and  cashiers per  annum.. 

Operators  and  clerks do 

Yardmen  and  switchmen do 

Conduetors : 

Passenger do 

Frei;;b  t do 

Brakeuieu : 

Passenger do... 

Freight do 

Baggagemen do  . . 

Chei^kera per  day.. 

Freight-porters do... . 

engineer's  kepautment. 

Track  inrenien per  day.. 

Track  laborers do 

Carpenters do 

Painters do 

Smiths per  hour.. 

Helpers do 


$500  00 
400  00 
4U0  00 

600  00 
500  00 

400  00 

350  00 

500  00 

1  15 

1  00 


1  C2J 


$1,  000  00 

I  1,  200  00 

;       600  00 

800  00 

700  00 

600  00 

000  00 

500  00 

1  75 

1  15 


2  12i 


1  60 


Average. 


$1  00 


1  75 

20 

■    14 


Note. — Tho  above  are  the  wages  paid  by  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railway,  as 
their  officials,  and  the  rates  are  probably  about  the  same  on  other  roads. 


;iven  to  me  by  one  of 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men),  distinguishing  between  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam,  in  the  port  of  Montreal,  Canada. 


Occupations. 


Ocean  steamers. 


Mate 

Second  mate 

Third  mate 

Fourth  mate 

Carpenters 

Seamen,  able 

Seamen,  ordinary. 


Steamers,  local  trade,  gulf  ports. 


Mate 

Second  mate 
Third  mate.. 
Firemen 


Seamen,  able 

Seamen,  ordinary. 
Trimmers 


Engineers,  first-class  ocean  steamnliips. 


First  engineer,  chief. . 
Second-class  engineer 
Third-class  engiueer. . , 
Fourth-class  engineer  . 


Sailing-vessels. 


Mates 

Mates,  second 

Stewards      

Seamen,  able 

Seamen,  ordinary. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$53  53 

$53  53 

43  79 

43  79 

38  93 

38  93 

34  06 

34  06 

29  19 

29  19 

14  00 

16  00 

14  00 

14  00 

40  00 

50  00 

35  00 

45  00 

28  00 

35  00 

25  00 

25  00 

20  00 

20  00 

16  00 
;    19  50 

16  00 
19  50 

t    87  59 

87  59 

68  13 

68  13 

53  53 

53  53 

48  66 

48  66 

32  00 

35  00 

20  00 

30  00 

27  00 

30  00 

15  00 

18  00 

15  00 

18  00 

Average. 


$53  53 
43  79 
38  93 
34  06 
29  19 
15  00 
14  00 


45  00 
40  00 
30  00 
25  00 
20  00 
16  00 
19  50 


87  59 
68  13 
53  53 
48  66 


33  33 
25  00 
28  50 
16  00 
16  00 


88 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 


Wages  paid  in  shops  and  stores,  tvhohsale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females  in  the  city  of  Mon- 
treal, Canada. 

("Week  of  sixty  hours.) 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


WHOLESALE. 

Cotnttiercial  travelers per  annum.. 

Bouso  swlestiien,  experienced do 

House  salesmen,  juuiois do 

Book-kei-|»'r8 do 

Invoice  ciciks do 

Entry  clerks   do 

Packers  and  porters do. . . 

nETAIL. 

Salesmen  or  olerks,  males  per  week.. 

Siilesmen  or  cleiks,  females do 

Office  clerks  and  cashiers,  females do 

Clerks  in  offices,  males do 


$600  00 
600  00 
2U0  00 
900  00 
400  00 
400  00 
350  00 


7  00 

3  00 

4  00 

5  00 


Highest. 


$3,  000  00 

900  00 

800  0(1 

1,  200  (10 

600  00 

600  00 

650  00 


18  00 
9  00 
8  00 

10  00 


Average. 


$1,  000  00 
750  00 
4(10  00 
1,  000  00 
500  00 
500  00 
450  00 


10  50 

5  00 

6  00 

7  50 


The  majority  of  wholesale  establishments  close  their  places  of  business  on  Saturdays  at  1  p.  m.  and 
several  of  the  retail  stores  and  shops  close  at  tliat  time  also. 
The  rates  of  wages  paid  in  the  diflereut  branches  of  trade  will  average  about  the  same. 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  to  household  servants  {toicns  and  cities)  in,  the  city  of  Montreal,  Canada. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Cooks  

$10  00 

7  00 

6  00 

60 

60 

$15  00 

10  00 

9  00 

1  00 

1  00 

$12  00 

General  servants 

Housemaids .. 

"Waslierwomen 

Scrubbers  and  charwomen 

do 

do  ... 

per  daj'. . 

do 

8  00 

7  00 

75 

7S 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  jjatd  to  agricultural  laborers  avd  household  (country)  servants  in  the  district  of 

Montreal. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Higliest. 

Average. 

Laborers v 

$1  25 

do 

1  25 

do.... 

80 

Houi-ehiiM  servants,  cook. 
Hiiiiseliold  Horrauts,  maid  . 

per  month.. 

do 

do.... 

$7  00 
5  00 

$10  00 
7  UO 

8  00 

6  00 

*25  00 

do  ... 

•25  00 

*With  house-rent. 

KoTK  — The  above  fljiures,  except  in  the  case  of  household  servants,  are  without  board  or  lodging. 
If  boarded  and  lodged,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  75  cents  per  day  is  paid  to  farm  hands  and  laborers. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 
XII.  COEPORATION  employ:^s. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  io  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Montreal,  Canada. 


89 


Occupations. 


City  clerk  .  . 
AHHistaiit  clerk 
City  treiisurer. . 

Ca«hiiT      

Acroiintiiuta 

Teller 


Lowest. 


$3,  500  00 
l,8iiO  00 
3,  500  00 
1,2U0  00 
1,0(10  UO 
800  00 

CUirks  in  (lepavtmeiits 18i>  00 

City  auditor 2,  8(l0  00 

Assistant  auditor 1,'JOO  00 

City  atUiiiiey   5,000  00 

Assistant  attorneys 1,  OnO  00 

City  a«8cs8ors...." 1,400  00 

City  surveyor 2,  800  00 

Deputy  surveyor 1,  600  00 

Assistant  surveyor 1,  5ii0  00 

Inspector  of  sewers ],  550  00 

Chief  of  polire 2,  8tl0  00 

Deputy  chief  of  police 1,400  00 

Subchiefs  of  police 1,  000  00 

Chief  <letective 900  00 

Detectives    800  00 

Serseauts  of  police 700  00 

A<-tiu}r  seifreants  of  police 600  00 

Subcoiiatables  (policemen) 416  00 

City  recorder 3,  000  00 

Recorder's  clerk I  1,  6U0  00 

Chief  of  tire  brigade  * 1, 400  04 

Assistant  chiefs  of  fire  brigade  j  ],  000  00 

Guardians  or  chiefs  of  stations* }      600  00 

Engineers   I      600  00 

Foreman  of  salvage  corps j      700  00 

Foreman  of  Skinner  ladder |      550  00 

Hose-maker I       600  00 

ilcu  for  salvage  corps 550  00 

Firemen 500  00 

Supeiiiitendent  of  tire-alarm 1,  800  00 

Assistant  superintendents  of  fire-alarm i      750  00 

Building  inspector I  1,200  00 

Boiler  insi)ector tl,  000  00 

Superintendent  of  water- works |  2,  800  00 

Deputy  superintendent  of  water-works |  2,000  00 

COO  00 

l,6ii0  00 

700  00 

440  00 

1,  000  00 

700  00 

600  00 

:6  00 

•6  00 

5(10  00 

500  00 

1,200  00 

600  00 

450  00 

450  00 

450  00 

450  00 


M.-ter  inspi'Ctors  of  water-works 

Engineer  of  water- works  wheel-house 

Assistant  engineers  of  water-works  wheel-house 

Oilers  of  water-works  wheel-house  

Engineer  of  water- works  engine-house 

(luardian  of  reservoir , 

K^'eper  of  aqueduct 

Laborers  in  water- works   department 

Laborers  in  road  department 

Clerks  of  markets  

Assistant  clerks  of  markets 

Medical  health  officer 

Superintendents  parks  and  ferries 

Gnaidiaus  parks  and  ferries 

Carpenters  parks  and  ferries 

Blacksmiths  parks  and  ferries 

Gai-deners  parks  and  ferries 


Highest. 


$3,  500  00 
l.ROO  00 
3,  500  00 
1,200  00 
1, GOO  00 
1,000  00 
1,000  00 
2,  800  00 
1,200  00 
5,  000  00 
1,000  00 

1,  400  00 

2,  800  00 
1.600  00 
1,  500  00 
1,2.50  00 
2,800  00 
1,400  00 
1,000  00 

900  00 
850  00 
7o0  00 
600  00 
468  00 

3,  000  00 
1, 600  00 
1,400  00 
1,000  00 

600  00 
600  00 
700  00 
550  00 
600  00 
550  00 
500  00 
1,  800  00 
1,  000  00 

1,  200  00 
tl,000  00 

2,  800  00 
2,  000  00 

600  00 

1,  600  00 

700  00 

440  00 

1,  000  00 

701)  00 

600  00 

:«  40 

:8  40 

1,  200  00 

600  00 

1,200  00 

1,  000  00 

450  00 

4r.0  00 

4.50  00 

450  00 


Average. 


$3,  500  00 
1,800  00 
3,  500  00 
1.200  00 

1,  3.'5  00 
900  00 
650  00 

2,  800  00 
1.200  00 
5,  000  00 
1,  Oc  0  00 
1.400  00 
2.800  00 
1,600  00 
1,  .500  00 

1,  2.50  00 

2,  800  00 
1,400  00 
1,  000  00 

900  00 
807  14 
700  00 
60(1  00 
455  92 

3,  000  00 
1,600  00 
l,4oO  00 
1,  000  00 

600  00 
GOO  00 
700  00 
550  00 
600  00 
550  00 
500  00 
1,  800  00 
916  67 

1,  200  00 
1 1.000  00 

2,  800  00 
2,  000  00 

600  00 

1,  000  00 

700  00 

440  00 

1,  000  00 

700  00 

600  00 

:7  50 

*7  5# 

7(J0  00 

5.50  00 

1,  200  00 

800  00 

450  00 

450  00 

450  00 

450  00 


'  Famished  with  dwelling 


tWith  fees. 


J  Per  week. 


90 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 


Wages  paid  per  annum  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices- 
tradesmen  and  laborers— in  the  city  of  Montreal,  Canada. 


-exclusive  of 


Occupations. 


CUSTOMS  SERVICE, 

Collector 

Surveyoi" 

Chief  landing  waiter 

Landing  waiters 

Tide  surveyor 

C  hief  clerk 

Cashier 

Assistant  cashier 

Clerks , 

Appraisers 

Assistant  appraisers 

Assistant  appraiser  and  packer 

Ex -warehouse  keeper 

"Weigher  and  ganger 

Assistant  weigher  and  ganger 

Packers 

JBHrst-class  tide  waiters 

Second-class  tide  waiters 

Acting  inspector  of  bonds 

POST-OFFICE. 

Postmaster 

A  ssistant  postmaster 

Pirst-class  clerks ; . 

Second-class  clerks 

Third-class  clerks 

Letter-carriers 

Letter  stamper 

Messenger 

Porter 

Fireman  and  night-watchman 


Lowest. 


$4, 000  00 

2,400  00 

1,400  00 

7.50  00 

1,  000  00 

2,  000  00 
1,600  00 
1,  000  00 

600  00 

1,200  00 

900  00 

600  00 

1,000  00 

1,  000  00 

600  00 

500  00 

600  00 

550  00 

750  00 


4,  000  00 
2,000  00 
1,  200  00 
940  00 
400  00 
300  00 
560  00 
300  00 
438  00 
365  00 


Highest. 


$4,  000  00 
2,400  00 
1,400  00 
1,  400  00 

1,  000  00 

2,  000  00 
1,600  00 
1.  000  00 
1,400  00 
1,  800  00 
1,200  00 

600  00 
1,  000  00 
1,  000  00 
600  00 
500  00 
600  00 
550  00 
750  00 


4,  000  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  560  00 

1,  100  00 

840  00 

560  00 

560  00 

500  00 

438  00 

365  00 


Average. 


$4,  000  00 

2,400  00 

1,  400  00 

978  57 

1,  000  00 

2,  000  00 
1,  600  00 
1,  000  00 

875  00 

3,6.50  00 

1,  080  00 

600  00 

1,000  00 

1,000  09 

600  00 

500  00 

600  00 

550  00 

750  00 


4,  000  00 

2,  000  00 

1,333  33 

1,  060  00 

641  31 

468  63 

560  00 

433  33 

438  00 

365  00 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-eight  and  one-half  hours  to  printers  {com- 
positors, pressmen,  proof-readers,  4''^-)  ^'*  ''^^  ^'*'i/  "/  Montreal,  Canada, 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Average. 


IN  NEWSPAPER  OFFICES. 


Morning  papers. 


Conipositcn's,  day  work.. 
Compositors,  night  work. 

Proof-readers 

i'lessmen 


Evening  papers. 


Compositors 

Compositors,  females.. 
Proof-readers,  females 
Pressman 


JOB  OFFICES. 


Compositors 

Compositors,  females 

Pressmen  . .'. 

Feeders  in  job  room,  females. 


BOOK  AND  NEWS  WORK. 


Compositors,  females  . 
Proof-readers,  females. 


$11  75 

13  50 

8  00 

10  00 


6  00 
4  00 
3  00 
10  00 


9  00 
3  00 
9  00 
3  00 


3  00 
5  00 


Sl3  50 
15  50 
12  00 
15  00 


17  00 

14  00 
8  00 

15  00 


12  00 
8  00 

12  00 
4  50 


8  00 
7  00 


$12  50 
14  50 
10  00 
12  00 


12  00 
9  00 
6  00 

12  00 


10  00 
6  00 

10  00 
4  00 


6  00 
6  00 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


91 


RECAPITULATION. 

Statement,  condensed  from  the  report  of  the  Canadian  census  o/18S0-'81,  shoiring  the  num- 
ber of  hands  employed,  the  total  t/carly  wages,  total  value  of  raw  viaterial,  and  the  total 
value  of  articles  produced  of  the  leading  industries  of  the  city  of  Montreal,  in  tite  province 
of  Quebec  and  Dominion  of  Canada. 


Induatries. 


Afsricultural  implements 

Bakeries  of  all  sorts 

Blacksuiithinjx 

Boots  and  shoes 

Brick  aud  tile  making 

■Cabiuet  aud  furniture 

Carpenters  and  joiners 

CaiTiageuiakin}j 

Cooperage 

Dresa-iuakingand  millinery.. 

Flour  aud  grist  mills  

Foundries  and  machine-shops 

Lime-kilns  

Saddle  aud  harness  uiaking.. 

S  iw-mills 

Tanneiii's        .   .  

Tailors  and  clothiers 

Tin  and  sheet-iron  working.. 

Breweries 

Broom  and  brush  making 

Furriers,  hatters,  &.C 

Jewelers  and  watchmakers  .. 

Meat-curiuii 

Painters,  glaziers,  &c 

Photographic  galleries 

Printing  othces 

Ship-yards  

iitone  and  marble  cutting... 

Book-liinding 

Chemical  establishments 

Dyeins;  and  scouring 

Miscellaiii-ous  wares 

Oil  refineries 

Soap  and  candle  making 

Tobacco  factories  and  cigars. 

Aerated-water  making 

Carvinjr  and  gilding 

Engine-building •. 

Engraving  and  lithographing 

Ga.s-works 

Gold  and  silver  smithing 

Musical-instrument  making  . 

Paint  and  varnish  works 

Paper  manufactories 

Patent  medicine  manufacto- 
ries     

Preserved  articles  of  food 

Saw  and  tile  cutting 

Straw- works   

Trunk  and  box  making 

"Wig-making 

Baking-jiowder  making 

Bank-note  engraving 

Belting  aud  hose  making 

Car  and  hjconiotive  works  .. . 

Card-box  manufactories 

Chocolate  factory 

Church  decorations 

Coffee  and  spice  mills 

Cork-cutting 

Cotton  factories 

Corset  factories 

Fittings  and  foundry  work- 
ing m  brass,  iron,  lead,  &.c. 

Pire-proof  safe  manufactories 


Hands  employed. 


Over   sixteen 
years. 


4 
57 
49 

171 
6  ! 
73  I 
24  : 
39  • 
18  1 

126  I 


63 

321 

92 

3.199 

186 
667 
270 
240 
130 


4 

187 

18 

657 

1 

14 

38 

138 

3 

218 

11 

574 

136 

1,043 

40 

208 

7 

182 

8 

156 

45 

401 

26 

119 

16 

72 

12 

119 

11 

59 

33 

694 

2 

91 

14 

140 

9 

135 

8 

51 

6 

16 

27 

109 

2 

37 

11 

134 

22 

897 

7 

106 

11 

91 

1 

100 

10 

206 

1 

126 

5 

55 

4 

44 

7 

115 

5 

253 

8 

48 

2 

44 

4 

135 

1 

15 

12 

170 

3 

7 

1 

4 

1 

43 

1 

12 

1 

1,190 

1 

■  2 

2 

7 

4 

29 

7 

41 

1 

15 

1 

214 

2 

2 

24 

S98 

2 

42 

1,832 
9 


Under  six- 
teen years. 


548 
5 
3 


14 


30 

3,893 

20 

10 


253 


37 


26 
14 

5 

123 

32 

1 


3 

"iss 


3 

193 

1 


771 

24 

21 

18 


22 
1 
6 

1 

22 

8 

84 

77 
12 
12 

20 

125 

15 

5 

29 

12 

2 

4 

44 

32 

29 

19 

20 

8 

806 

341 

249 

15 

17 

8 

10 
50 

56 

26 

12 

2 

1 

6 

28 

86 

5 

3 

49 

1 

21 

1 
17 

60 

168 

9 

12 

18 

2 

5 

51 

20 

2 

6 

6 

5 

13 

5 

1 

12 

8 
5 

2 

393 

62 

55 

41 

5 

3 

81 

$17, 

113, 

27, 

1,  428, 

72, 

289, 
82, 
95, 
43, 
84, 

206, 

240, 

4 

46, 

81 

171 

678, 
61 
81 
19, 

319, 
54 
18, 
38, 
32 

333 
27 
59, 
72 
37 
7, 
63 
13, 
91 

392 
21 
34, 
50, 
90 
60, 
18, 
21 
75 

106, 

34 
10, 
25 
25 
69, 

5 

3 
55, 

4 
553 

3 

3, 
16, 
26, 

5, 
134 

4, 

237 
13, 


$28,  900 
842,  777 

36,  655 
3,811,214 

.54,  500 
377,  048 
123, 400 
141, 425 

70,  430 

270,  421 

2,  215,  250 

378, 130 

36,  000 
153,  950 
327,  000 

1,  694,  550 

2,  389,  332 
143,  010 
432,  000 

74,  000 

1, 127,  7-20 

127,  493 

536,  961 

58, 178 

25,  810 

335,  000 

87,  000 

49,  055 

58. 700 

141,400 

10, 700 

149, 120 

116,  5U0 

560,  620 

945,  055 

61,400 

59,  900 

45,  000 

131,100 

78,  000 

67,  320 

38,  700 

533,  000 

362,  000 

193, 850 
12^,  500 
182,  000 

10,  000 
211,900 

5,200 
^0,  970 
33,  000 
48,  000 
959,  571 
15,  000 

1 1,  500 
62,  200 

345,  000 
35,  000 

478,  000 
24, 000 

299, 100 
12,000 


$62,  000 

1,265,358 

93,454 

6,  703,  386 

243,  000> 

1.  057,  846 
294,  400 
343,  520 
138,  380 
516,011 

2,  499,  170 
774,  360 

44,  530 
290.  656 
497,  000 

2,  445,  000 

3,  770,  201 
290, 112 
725,  000 
110,  200 

2,  050,  750 
291,927 
654, 121 
156,  378 
112,300 
983,  860 
120,  000 
2C3,  700 
209, 140 
223,  500 
36,  600 
310,  787 
142,  500 
845,  300 

1,  637,  403 
134,  000 
171,  200 
145,  000 
320,  000 
312,  000 
117,640 
140,  700 
809,  500 
627, 746 

343.  200 
152,  800 
534,  000 

50,  000 
483,  400 

15,  100 

71, 200 
100,  000 

64,000 
1,  513, 159 

30,  000 

27,  000 
160,  300 
479,  000 

60,  000 
800,  000 

34,  000 

660, 100 
38,000 


92  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

Statement,  condensed  from  the  rejyort  of  the  Canadian  census  of  1880-'81,  ^o. — Continued. 


Industries. 


Glass-worka 

Glove  and  luitt  manufactories 

Gliip-niakiiif: 

Irdia-rubbtT  factories 

Iron-siiieltiug  furnaces  and. 
steel 

Lamp  and  chandelier  facto- 
ries   

Last  factories 

Nail  and  tack  factories 

Jiut  and  bolt  works 

Paper  bas:  and  box  making  .. 

Paper-ci'llar  factories 

Phming  and  molding  mills.. 

Rolling  inills  (iron) 

Rootiug-f'  It  manufactories... 

Scale  factories 

Sewing-machine  factories  ... 

Shii't,  collar,  and  tie  making 

Ship-material  making 

Shook  and  box  making 

Silk-mills 

Spike  and  lailway  chair  fac- 
tories   : 

Sugar  refineries 

Type  fiiundiies 

Veimicelli  and  macaroni  fac- 
tories   

Vinegar  factories 

Wall  paper  factories 

Wire-woiks 


Hands  employed. 


Over  sixteen 
years. 


2in 
39 

133 


34 
34 

561 

130 

44 

4 

76 

325 
95 
23 

515 
70 
16 
25 
50 

29 

460 

18 

9 
12 
20 
33 


Grand  total 1,296     18,425 


32 

985 

15 


144 


10 


Under  six- 
teen j-ears. 


10,  927 


79 


1,974 


175 

"ii 


$108, 200 

25,  600 

3.700 

154,612 

32,  918 

15,400 

12,  HOO 
24n.  000 

45,  000 

16.230 
7,000 

32,  200 
120,  000 

30,  OHO 

9.  060 

231  571 

217,196 

12,  040 
7.400 

35,  600 

11.000 

240,  000 

21,  100 

2,260 

6,000 

20,  000 

14,  100 


$83, 400 
76,  070 
3t,  650 

437,  604 

31,  800 

19,400 

12,  000 

590,  000 

80,  OUO 

31,3U0 

9,  500 

41,000 

320,  000 

150,  500 

20,  900 

220,  500 

3K6,  842 

37.  5n0 

18,  500 

158,  000 

75,  oeo 

6, 100,  000 
16,  000 

15,  000 

50,  000 

60,  000 

147,  000 


8,  795, 165  I  31,  629,  981 


5^ 


1230,  ODD 

108,  670 

58,  920 

679,  500 

142,  000 

46.  000 

36,  000 

930,  000 

200,  000 

79,  050 

25,  000 

98,  000 

500,  000 

205,  600 

43,  000 

521,031 

9:55,  394 

61.000 

32,  500 

275,  000 

144, 000 

6,  800,  000 

64,500 

22,  500 

90,  000 

100,  000 

191,  000 


51,  219,  360 


PRICES   OF   THE  NECESSARIES   OF  LIFE. 

Statement  showing  the  retail  prices  of  prorisions,  groceries,  and  other  leading  articles  ofcon- 
sumjytio}!  and  of  house-tent  and  board  in  the  city  of  Montreal,  Canada. 


Articles. 


PKOVISIOK8. 

Flonr: 

Wheat,  extra  superfine per  barrel 

superfine do.. 

city  bags,  delivered 100  pounds 

Oatmeal  do. . 

Coriinieal do. . 

Buckwheat do.. 

Pease  per  bushel 

Butter,  in  the  tub per  pound 

Cheese do  . 

Lard,  iu  pails do  . 

Bggs  per  dozen 

Potatoes per  bag  of  li  bushels 

Milk: 

Summer per  quart 

Winter do.. 

Tea: 

Oolong,  or  other  good  black per  pound 

Green  and  Japan do. . 

Coffee  : 

Roasted  .-. do. . 

Ground do. . 


13  to 

07i 

08J 

12 

35 


$4  60 
4  10 
2  30 
2  10 

1  10 

2  00 
80 
20 
08 
09i 
14" 
45 

05 
07 

70 
80 


15  tx) 
15 
lOi 
16 

85 


30 
25 


$5  00 
3  50 
2  80 
2  50 
1  75 

1  6;> 

1  15 
18 
16 
12 
22 
90 

06 
08 

70 

80 

40 
35 


LABOR    IN   NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  93 

Statement  showing  the  retail  prices  of  provisions,  grocei-ies,  <fc. — Ccntinned. 


Articles. 


Pbovisions— Continued. 
Sugar: 

Oood  hinwn perponnd. 

TpIIow  "(j  " <lo... 

CoflVe  "B" do... 

Molassi'S : 

Harbndnes per  gallon. 

Coiiinion do. .. 

Simps    do  .. 

Soap,  romnion do . . . 

S  ta  u-  h     do.. 

IJrPiid,  white,  good per  loaf  4  ponnd.i. 

Rirf> per  pnuud. 

Beans do  .. 

Coal  oil per  gallon . 

MEATS. 

Beef,  frr  fih : 

l{oa.xtiti<:  pieces perponnd. 

S'lnp  nieces do  .. 

Round  steaks  do. .. 

Sii'loin  steaks do  .. 

Coi  ned   do . . . 

Veal : 

Fore-qiiarters do  .. 

Hiiid-quaittTs do... 

Citl.-Ls do... 

Mnttnii  : 

Fore-quarters do. .. 

I>g do. .. 

(llhiips do... 

Pork: 

Fresh do . . . 

C'TTied  or  salted '. do. . . 

Bacon do 

Hams,  smoked do. .. 

Shoulders    do. . . 

S»iis!.L'es do... 

Codfish,  dry do... 

Mackerel,  pickled  or  salt do... 

DUY  GOODS. 

Shirtings : 

Hronn.  J  standard per  yard. 

Blt-aihed,  J  standard do... 

Sheet injrs  : 

Riiiwn.  -',"■  standard  do... 

Blnached.  V  standard do. .. 

Canton  (coiton)  flannel,  medium do... 

Tick ing,  good do. . . 

Prints : 

Amciican,  good do. ., 

Enijlish,  trooil do. .. 

Moiissiline  de  laines,  good do... 

Satinets,  mndinm do  . . . 

Boots,  men's  heavy per  pair. 

FUEL. 
Coal,  anthracite: 

Sfovo  per  net  ton. 

E.'H do. . . 

Chestnut do... 

Wood  ( French  measure) : 

Maple per  cord 

Birch do... 

B-ech do.. 

Tamai  a  ck do . . 

Ueiiilock do.. 


1878. 


1884. 


OC  to  $0  07  I 
07*1 
08' 


O.'ito$0  06 

06  or.) 

07  08 


70 
50 
7.'; 

onj 

06 
16 

05 
C4 
20 


10 

05 

12i 

15' 

10 

04 
08 
10 

09 
12 
12 


10 
12 

30 
40 
20 
25 

12i 
15 
20 
50 
2  50 


5  50 
5  00 
4  50 
4  00 
4  00 


12J 

08 

15 

18 

12 

07 
10 
12 

10 
15 
15 

10 
10 
15 
15 
12 
12 
08 
10 


12 
18 

38 
45 
25 
35 

18 
25 
40 
75 
3  50 


5  50 
5  25 

5  00 

6  50 
6  25 
5  fiO 
5  00 
4  50 


75 

onj 

07 
18 
04 
04 
22 


124 
05 

15 
10 

05 
10 
12J 


12J 
124 


06 
10 

28 
38 
16 
22 

OH 
12" 
15 
40 
2  00 


70 
50 
00 
07 
08 
2U 
05 
05 
25 


15 
08 
16 
18 
12 

07 
12 
15 

10 
15 
15 

12 
12 
16 
16 
15 
12 
08 
10 


10 
15 

30 
55 
23 
30 

10 
20 
30 
CO 
3  00 


6  no 

5  75 

6  00 

7  50 
7  00 
6  .^0 

6  no 

5  00 


94 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA 

House-rent  in  the  city  of  Montreal,  Canada. 


Per  month. 


Three-room  tenements. 
Four-room  tenements.. 
Five-room  tenements... 


1878. 

1879. 

188J. 

1881. 

1882. 

1883. 

1884. 

$2  50 

$2  50 

$3  00 

$3  00 

$3  50 

$4  00 

$4  OO' 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

3  00 

3  00 

3  50 

3  75 

4  00 

5  00 

5  00 

3  00 

3  00 

3  50 

3  50 

4  00 

4  50 

6  00 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

3  50 

3  50 

4  00 

4  00 

4  .iO 

5  50 

7  00 

5  00 

5  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  40 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

5  50 

5  50 

6  50 

6  50 

7  00 

7  00 

8  00 

The  rate  of  Louse-rents  depends  upon  whether  the  tenement  is  situated 
in  the  first,  second,  or  third  flats,  and  according  to  the  location  and  con- 
dition of  the  building. 

In  most  instances  in  addition  to  the  house-rent  the  tenant  has  to  i)ay 
the  city  taxes  on  the  property,  and  in  all  cases  the  tenant  is  assessed 
and  is  called  upon  to  pay  the  water-tax.  The  water  rates  are  based 
upon  the  rental. 


Board. 


1884. 


For  men — mechanics,  &c 

For  women  employed  in  factories,  &c. 


$3  00  to  $4  CO 
2  00        3  OO' 


A  blacksmith's  statement. 

Question.  How  old  are  you  ? — Answer.  I  am  forty  years  old. 
Q.  What  is  your  business? — A.  I  am  a  blacksmith. 
Q.  Have  you  a  family  ? — A.  Yes,  a  wife  and  four  children. 
Q.  What  wages  do  you  receive?— A.  Eleven  dollars  a  week. 
Q.  How  many  hours  a  day  do  you  work  ? — A.  Ten  hours  a  day. 
Q.  How  much  time  are  you  allowed  for  meals  ? — A.  One  hour  for  dinner. 
Q.  Can  yoii  support  your  family  upon  such  wages  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  What  do  the  united  earnings  of  yourself  and  family  amount  to  in  a  year  ? — A. 
About  $600. 

Q.  Will  yon  explain  in  detail  the  uses  you  make  of  this  money  ? — A.  Yes. 

For  rent  of  six  rooms,  $9  per  month $108  00 

For  clothing  for  self  ajid  family,  about 200  00 

For  food  and  fuel  per  day,  about  6.5c 237  25 

For  taxes,  about 10  00 

For  dues  to  society 3  00 

For  school  books,  doctors'  bills,  and  incidentals,  about 25  00 

583  25 
Balance  for  other  purposes 16  75 

600  00 

Q.  Of  what  kind  of  food  do  your  daily  meals  consist? — A.  For  breakfast,  oatmeal 
porridge  aiul  molasses,  bread  and  butter,  tea  or  coffee  ;  sometimes  we  take  a  steak  ; 
other  times  we  take  some  hash  made  from  the  meat  left  over  the  day  ])revious;  for 
dinner,  soup,  beef,  and  potatoes,  bread  ;  pudding  or  siruj)  for  dessert ;  and  for  supper, 
bread  and  butter  and  tea,  sometimes  a  piece  of  cake  or  crackers  or  a  piece  of  pie. 

Q.  Are  you  able  to  save  any  portion  of  your  earnings  for  days  of  sickness  or  old 
age?— A.  No. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


95 


SAINT  HYACINTHE. 

REPORT  BY  COMMERCIAL  AGENT  FISH. 

The  following  are  the  wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  for  services  of  laborers  in  the  city  of 
Saint  Hyacinthe  and  the  consular  district  in  which  it  is  embraced. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Thrashing-machine  and  horse-rake  works. 

Lathe  and  vice  hands : 

$2  00 
80 

$1  00 

1  75 

80 

Wo<)<!-\vorkins  hands  : 

( 
2  00 

1  50 

65 

Moldors  : 

2  50 

1  50 

75 

1  50 

1  00 

Sash, 

door,  and  blind  factory. 

2  50 

1  00 
1  00 

1  50 

1  50 

Laborers : 

Saw-mills. 

1  75 

1  25 

80 

1  00 
40 

1  00 

Laborers : 

Miilo  

Knitting  mills. 

2  50 

1  00 

Woolen  mills. 

2  75 

2  00 

1  00 

40 

80 

Railroads. 

1  50 

1  25 

1  25 

1  25 

Farms. 

*5  00 
tl  00 

2  00 

*16  00 

tl  25 

Brick-layers,  masons 

General  trades. 

2  25 

1  00 

3  00 

2  00 

2  25 

2  00 

Gas-titters     

3  00 

1  25 
1  50 

1  50 

2  00 

1  25 

Tailors 

•        1  00 
1  00 

2  25 

1  50 

Cabimtt-makors : 

1  50 

1  00 

1  25 

riirricr.s  : 

1  00 

Female 

50 

'  Per  month. 


t  Per  week. 


96  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  for  services  of  laborers,  cf-c. — Continued. 


Occupations". 

Lowest. 

H 

gheet. 

General  trades — Continued, 

Fonndries  and  machine-shops : 

First  cla-^8 

$3  00 

$1  50 

2  00 

1  50 

1  25 

1  25 

Grist  Jiiill  : 

1  50 

1  00 

75 

1  20 

Clerks 

1  50 

ALLEN  FISH, 
Commercial  Agent. 
United  States  Commeecial  Agency, 

Saint  Hyacinthe,  May  6,  1884. 


THREE  RIVERS. 


REPORT  BY  CONSUL  WILSON. 


In  answer  to  your  labor  circular  of  the  loth  February  last  relative  to 
the  prices  paid  for  wafjes,  &c.,  in  this  consular  district,  I  have  the  honor 
to  report  that  the  only  apology  I  have  to  offer  for  ray  ai)parent  procrastin- 
ation has  arisen  from  the  fact  that  I  was  suffering  from  inflanituatory 
rheumatism  during  the  entire  winter  past,  and  I  am  still  afflicted  with 
this  painful  di.sease. 

1  regret  I  cannot  give  you  a  more  satisfactory^  report,  but  there  being 
no  factories  or  workshops  of  any  importance  in  this  city  1  am  unable  to 
furnisii  as  full  a  report  as  I  would  like  to  do. 

It  may  be  stated,  however,  that  this  consular  district,  comi)rising 
20,()()()  inhabitants,  more  or  less,  since  the  earliest  times  has  contributed 
largely  of  both  male  and  female  laborers  to  the  factories  and  workshops 
of  New  England. 

Although  the  demand  for  mechanics  and  factory  hands  is  not  so  great 
as  fortneily  in  New  England,  yet  the  weekly  and  daily  wages  are  to-day 
fidl  50  per  cent,  more  in  New  England  than  are  paid  here  for  the  same 
kinds  of  labor. 

This  people  as  a  race  are  very  hardy  and  uever  had  any  of  the  com- 
forts and  luxuries  of  life,  are  quite  like  their  horses,  they  arecni)ableof 
enduring  more  hardships  and  subsisting  on  meauer  food  than  any  peo- 
ple on  eartii. 

The  real  hibor  of  this  district  is  performed  by  the  "shanty"  men,  the 
woo<i  choppeis  and  lumbermen,  who  have  commanded  the  best  wages. 
But  during  the  i)ast  year  or  two  there  has  been  a  great  falling  off  in 
lumber  oi)erations,  causing  real  distress  among  the  poorer  classes;  not 
80  much  on  account  of  the  low  wages  paid  as  tor  the  want  of  work.  It 
is  estimated  that  not  more  than  one-third  of  the  hands  were  given  work 
the  i»ast  season  that  sought  for  it,  and  the  present  outlook  is  very  dark 
indeed  for  that  class  of  laborers. 

JAMES  M.  WILSON, 


United  States  Consulate, 

Three  Rivers^  August  4,  1884. 


Consul. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

I.  General  trades. 


97 


Wages  paid  in  Three  liivera. 
[Per  week  of  sixty  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


BUILDING  TKADES. 

Briclclayers per  week 

llodcarriers .^. do.. 

Masons do. . 

Tenders do.. 

Plasterers do.. 

Tenders do . . 

Slater.s do. . 

Koofera do. . 

Tenders do.. 

Plumbers do. . 

Assistants ..do. . 

Carpenters do. . 

Gas-fitters do . . 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers do. . . 

Blacksmiths do . . . 

Strikers do. .. 

Book-binders do... 

Brick -makers do... 

Butchers do... 

Brass.founders do... 

Cabinet-makers do. .. 

Confectioners do... 

Cigar-makers do . . . 

Coopers do... 

Drivers do. .. 

Draymen  and  teamsters do... 

Dyers do. .. 

Engravers    do... 

Furriers do. .. 

Gardeners do . . . 

Hatters do... 

Horseshoers do... 

Jewelers do... 

Laborers,  porters,  &c do... 

Millwrights do. .. 

Saddle  and  harness  makers do. .. 

Kail-makers do. .. 

Tanners do. . . 

Tailors do. . . 

Telegraph  opera tor.s,  male per  month. 

Telegraph  operators,  female do... 

Tinsmiths  .    per  week . 

Weavers do. .. 

TEACHEKB,  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

Protestant : 

Male  principal do. .. 

Female  principal do... 

Catholic : 

Male  professor.^ do... 

Female  professors do. . . 

Corporation  employet. 

Secretary-treasurer do . . . 

Assistant  secretary -treasurer do  .. 

Second  assistant  secretary-treasurer do. .. 

Third  a.s8i.stant  .secretary -treasurer do. . . 

Chief  clerk  water- works  iie|iartnient do... 

Assistant  clerk  water-works  department do. .. 

Superintendent  water- works  department do... 

Superintendent  on  road do... 

First  engineer  water- works  department do... 

Second  engineer  water-works  department do... 

Messenger  city-liall do . . . 

Bridge-keeper do. .. 

Keeper  of  uublic  commons do.. 

Chief  of  police do... 

Sergeant do. . 


Policemen do . 

92  A— 2  LAB 7 


$9  00 
4  80 
9  00 
4  80 
9  00 
4  80 

12  00 

12  00 
4  80 

15  00 
6  00 
9  00 

15  00 


7  50 
7  50 
7  50 
9  00 
9  00 
7  50 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 
6  00 
9  00 

6  00 

7  50 
9  00 

15  00 

12  00 

7  50 

7  50 

9  00 

15  00 

4  80 

21  00 

7  50 

7  50 

9  00 

9  00 

40  00 

25  00 

9  00 

7  50 


$12  00 

6  00 
12  00 

6  00 
12  00 

6  00 
15  00 
15  00 

6  00 
18  00 

9  00 
12  00 
18  00 


9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

12  Oo 

12  Oo 

9  00 

12  00 

12  00 

10  50 

9  00 

12  00 

7  50 

9  00 

12  00 

24  00 

18  00 

9  00 

9  00 

12  00 

18  00 

6  00 

24  00 

9  00 

9  00 

12  00 

12  00 

60  00 

40  00 

10  50 

9  00 

*800  00 

*275  00 

•200  00 

*144  00 

1,  250  00 

600  00 

375  00 

130  00 

800  00 

200  00 

450  00 

300  00 

1425  00 

1375  00 

1360  00 

t200  00 

350  00 

600  00 

375  00 

375  00 

98 


LABOR    IN    NOETH   AMERICA:    CANADA 
Wages  paid  in  Three  Rivera — Coutiniied. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Hinhest 

Mal9 

Shoe-shop. 

week., 
.do... 

$125  00 
100  00 

8  00 

1  00 

80 

1  50 

-       80 

$600  00 
200  00 

1883, 1884    . . 

Lumbermen.l 

15  00 

Boys,  half 

price. 

.  Mill  hands.§ 

1  25 

1  00 

Filers 

1  95 

1  00 

*  And  lodginfc.  t  And  lodging  and  fael. 

§  Wages  paid  per  day  of  eleven  hours. 


I  "Wages  per  winter  month,  from  daylight  to  dark. 


PROVINCE  OF  NEW  BRUNSWICK. 
SAINT  JOHN. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  WARNER. 
RATES   OF  WAGES. 

Tbe  rates  of  wages  paid  to  all  classes  of  labor,  as  far  as  can  be  had, 
are  given  in  the  tabulated  forms  accompanying  this  report. 

Wages,  taking  all  departments,  have  changed  but  little  since  1878. 
In  no  particular  department  has  there  been  a  change  worthy  of  notice, 
except  in  that  of  the  stevedores.  They,  in  1878,  were  receiving  for 
loading  sailing-vessels,  $2.50  a  day;  in  1879,  $2.50;  in   1880,  $2;  in 

1881,  $2.50;  in  1882,  $3;  in  1883,  $3;  in  1884,  $3. 

The  same  men,  for  loading  steamers,  received  $4.50  to  $5  a  day  in 

1882,  1883,  and  1884.     The  conditions  have  not  changed  for  the  better 
for  the  laboring  class  since  1878. 

HABITS   OF  THE  WORKING  CLASSES. 

To  the  observant  traveler  the  rural  working  population  of  this  prov- 
ince seem  indolent — lazy.  They  can  raise  sufficient  crop  to  keep  their 
families,  feed  their  little  stock,  and  enough  to  sell  or  barter  for  their 
groceries  and  their  clothing  without  much  labor.  When  asked,  "yVliy 
not  produce  more?"  they  reply,  "  What  will  we  do  with  it"?  The  tariff 
duties  into  the  United  States  shuts  us  out  from  there,  and  we  have  no 
other  market."  In  this  city  the  greater  portion  are  industrious  and 
trustworthy,  another  portion  about  as  worthless  a  class  of  men  as  can 
be  found  anywhere — working  themselves  just  enough  to  procure  their 
rum,  and  dei)ending  ui)on  the  labor  of  their  wives  to  procure  for  them 
and  their  children  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  general  use  of  alcoholic 
drinks  is  the  cause. 

ORGANIZED   CONDITION   OF  LABOR. 

There  is  but  one  labor  organization  worthy  of  notice  in  the  province, 
that  of  the  stevedores  of  this  city.     They,  in  1865,  organized  the  Labor- 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA.  99 

ers'  Benevolent  Society,  which,  in  1880,  was  changed  to  the  Ship 
Laborers'  Union.  Its  membership  was  at  one  time  seventeen  hun- 
dred; now  it  numbers  about  seven  hundred.  The  society  is  organ- 
ized for  the  protection  of  the  members.  Tliey  each  pay  dues,  which 
constitute  the  fund  for  ex{)euses  in  case  of  their  sick  and  burial  of  their 
dead.  Every  year  there  is  a  contest  between  the  members  of  the  society 
and  the  employers.  They  generally  manage  to  keep  the  wages  in  the 
pin-t  high.  Vessels  generally  are  loaded  by  contract,  and  the  disputes 
are  between  the  stevedores  and  the  contractors;  whether  the  wages  are 
reduced  or  raised  the  ship  does  not  feel  the  change.  In  1880,  when 
wages  were  lowest,  the  shippers  })aid  the  highest  for  loading  their  ves- 
sels. The  i)roximity  to  the  United  States  is  a  great  advantage  to  this 
class,  that  market  taking  up  all  surplus  labor  as  fast  as  the  natural 
increase  can  supply  it,  there  is  never  trouble  on  account  of  too  many 
workingmeu. 

.     GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING-   CLASSES. 

The  working  peo])le  of  this  province,  including  mechanics  and  labor- 
ers, can,  with  industry,  sobriety,  and  prudence  live  very  comfortably, 
and  have  something  to  put  away  at  the  end  of  the  year.  House  rent  is 
very  low,  good  quarters,  embracing  from  three  to  five  rooms  each,  can  be 
bad  at  from  $32  to  $00  a  year.  Food  of  every  kind  is  cheap.  Flour  for 
a  family  of  six  will  cost  not  to  exceed  $50  a  year.  Beef  and  mutton  7 
cents  a  pound ;  pork,  10  to  12  cents  a  pound ;  veal,  1  to  5  cents  a  pound. 
Clothing  is  cheap,  and  coals  cost  here  not  any  more  than  in  the  cities  of 
the  United  States  near  the  mines  which  produce  them.  They  live  well, 
and  usually  have  meat  every  day.  Few  of  them  occupy  less  than  three 
rooms  to  a  family,  most  of  them  have  four  to  five.  Too  much  strong 
drink  and  too  much  credit  are  these  people's  greatest  enemies,  and  do 
more  to  demoralize  them  than  anything  else.  Two-thirds  manage  to 
pay  their  rent,  one-third  do  not,  and  a  portion  of  the  latter  are  unable 
on  account  of  misfortune  generally ;  they  don't  intend  paying.  Ship 
carpenters  have  work  about  one-half  their  time,  during  the  idle  hours 
the  rum-shops  and  groceries  involve  them  so  largely  in  debt  that  with 
the  most  honest  of  theui  it  is  a  struggle  to  get  on.  The  absence  of  re- 
formatories and  of  a  compulsory  education  law  does  not  tend  to  improve 
the  situation.  Not  one-half  of  the  children  go  to  the  public  schools,  and 
youthful  offenders  of  the  laws  are  imprisoned  with  the  old,  and  come  out 
with  their  moral  sensibilities  blunted  and  in  a  worse  condition  than 
when  sent  to  prison. 

The  moral  standard  is  low.  Many  of  these  people  seem  to  care  but 
little  for  their  obligations.  They  obtain  credit  without  intention  of 
paying.  They  dress  well,  attend  places  of  amusement,  picnics,  races, 
&c.,  and  the  shop-keeper  who  helped  them  through  the  cold  season 
waits  and  seldom  gets  his  money. 

Interviews  with  many  workingmen  develops  the  fact  that  they  do 
not  know  how  their  money  is  spent.  They  will  tell  you  their  fiour  costs 
them  $15  a  year,  their  meat  $35  a  year,  and  so  on  through  all  their 
known  expenses.  When  told  they  have  not  accounted  for  their  year's 
earnings,  they  say  they  don't  know  where  it  went,  and  all  they  do  know 
is  that  they  have  nothing  left  at  the  end  of  the  year;  none  of  them  say 
they  can  put  anything  away  for  old  age.  They,  none  of  them,  seem  to 
understand  how  to  live  simply,  prudently,  and  cheaijly. 


100  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

CAUSES  LEADING  TO  EMIGRATION. 

The  developmeut  of  manufactures  and  other  industries  not  keeping 
pace  with  the  natural  increase  of  population,  and  the  settlement  of  the 
■wild  lands  not  having  been  pushed  by  the  local  government,  accounts  for 
the  large  emigration  each  year. 

The  influences  which  locate  these  emigrants  are  the  letters  received 
from  their  friends  and  acquaintances  who  have  gone  before  them.  Their 
occupations  are  jDrincipally  farming  and  mechanics. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

Number  of  women  and  children  employed  in  industrial  pursuits : 
Manufacturing  and  mechanical :  Women,  3,850 ;  girls  under  sixteen- 
922 ;  total,  4,772 ;  commercial,  200 ;  professional  and  personal,  includ, 
ing  government  officials  and  clerks,  teachers,  artists,  hotel  and  board- 
ing-house keepers,  &c.,  1,072 ;  grand  total,  6,042. 

Wages  paid  female  adults:  Minimum,  $2 ;  maximum,  $10;  average, 
$5  per  week.     Hours  of  labor,  nine  to  ten  per  day. 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL   CONDITION. 

The  morals  of  working  women  are  about  on  a  par  with  women  of  like 
occupations  in  the  United  States.  The  physical  condition  is  generally 
good,  seldom  showing  in  their  ai)pearance  disease,  but  the  reverse. 

Employers  pay  little  attention  to  the  improvement  of  the  moral  or 
intellectual  condition  of  their  employes,  the  churches  being  the  only 
organizations  which  give  the  matter  attention,  and  even  in  them  there 
seems  but  little  zeal  in  that  direction.  A  free  library  has  been  estab- 
lished in  this  city  within  the  last  three  years  which,  it  is  hoped,  will  soon 
furnish  reading  for  all  who  desire  it. 

But  little  care  seems  to  have  been  taken  to  avoid  disasters  in  case  of 
fire  or  other  accidents.  The  general  public  hospital  is  free  to  all  who 
need  medical  attention  on  account  of  sickness.  There  has  been  but 
little  increase  during  the  last  five  years  in  wages  paid  women,  while 
there  has  been  a  material  increase  in  the  price  of  about  all  the  neces- 
saries of  life.  The  employment  of  women  in  this  province  does  not  per- 
ceptibly attect  the  wages  of  men,  because  they  are  not  employed  gen- 
erall}^  in  all  departments  to  the  extent  they  are  in  many  other  countries. 
The  education  of  the  working  women  of  the  province  is  very  limited,  a 
part,  those  young  in  years  are  better  informed,  having  been  sent  to 
the  free  schools  until  old  enough  to  eai'n  wages. 

D.  B.  WARNEE, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Saint  John,  June  3,  1884. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Saint  John,  New  Brunswick. 


101 


Occupations. 


Average. 


BUILDING   TBADBB. 

BrieUla.vors 

Ilod-carriers 

Masons    

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Eoofeis 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants 

Carpenters 

Gas-fitters  

OTHER  TUADE6. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths  

Book-binders 

Brick-makers 

Brewers 

Butchers 

Brass-founders 

Confectioners 

Ci  jrar-makers 

Drivers  on  street-railways 

Engravers  (stone)    

Furriers  (forty-eight  hours  a  week) 

Hatters  (fifty-four  hours  a  week) 

Horseshoers     

Jewelers  (fifty-four  hours  a  week)  

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Lithosraphers 

Millwrifihts 

Printers 

Teachers  (public  schools)  * 

Saddh'  :ind  harness  makers 

Sail-makers 

Stevedores ; 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 


$18  00 
7  50 
18  00 
6  00 
18  00 

6  00 

7  50 

6  00 
9  00 
1  50 

7  50 
9  00 


2  00 
9  50 


2 

7 
7 
9 
7 
3 

2  00 
7  00 

6  00 

3  00 
12  00 

5  HO 
10  00 

5  00 
10  00 

9  00 

9  00 

*170  00 

7  00 
12  00 
18  00 

7  00 
9  00 

6  00 
6  00 


$18  00 

9  00 
18  00 

7  50 
18  00 

7  50 
10  00 

7  50 
12   00 

4  00 
12  00 
12  00 


10  00 
15  00 
12  00 
12  00 
9  00 

15  00 
12  00 

9  00 

9  00 

10  00 

30  00 

16  00 
20  00 

9  00 
18  00 
9  00 

15  00 
I  12  00 
I  12  00 
n,  600  00 

10  00 
I  12  00 
1    30  00 

16  00 
15  00 

I    22  00 
12  00 


$18  00 

8  00 

18  00 

7  00 

18  00 

7  00 

8  00 
7  00 

9  00 
2  50 
9  00 
9  00 


8  00 

9  50 
5  00 
9  00 
7  00 

12  00 
9  00 

4  50 

5  00 

7  00 
18  00 

6  00 
14  00 

7  00 
12  00 

6  00 

10  00 

9  00 

9  OO 

-300  OO 

8  00 
12  00 
20  00 

8  00 
10  00 
10  00 

8  00 


*  Per  year. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wrges  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  New  Brunswick. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Spinners,  mule 

COTTON  MILLS. 

$9  00 
5  50 

Spinners,  ring 

$1  50 

$20  00 
15  00 
20  00 

Dyers 

6  00 

7  00 

Pilers 

6AW-MILLS. 

14  00 

Millwright 

12  00 
10  50 

10  50 

Gangmen 

9  6(i 

9  50 
3  00 

9  00 

Pilors 

Including  all  departments. 

SriCE-MILLB. 

12  00 

5  00 

102  LABOR    IN   NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

II.  Factories,  Mills,  etc. — Continued. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  iti  factories  or  mills  in  New  Brunswick — Coutinued. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Manager 

PAPER-MILLS. 

$15  00 

15  00 

9  00 

9  00 

7  50 

7  50 

15  00 

12  00 

•      10  00 

$12  00 
6  00 

$13  00 
7  00 

Firemen 

GrindiMs 

Liaborers 



Bolt  and  nut  factory 

5  00 
8  00 
2  00 

6  50 

Wood -makers 

10  00 

8  00 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  j^aid  per  week  of  sixty  Iwurs  in  fomidries,  machine-sliops,  and  iron  ivorks  in  New 

Brunswick. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$7  00 
9  00 
6  00 

18  00 
17  00 
15  00 
6  00 
11  00 

$12  00 
18  00 
18  00 

22  00 
20  00 
18  00 
9  00 
16  00 

$7  50 
12  00 

Engine-buildt^rs 

Edge-tool  makers -.        --        .--   ^ 

11  00 

Hollers 

UOLLING-MILLS. 

18  00 

17  00 

Puddlers 

15  00 

Laborers 

7  00 

Engineers ....     .                  

12  00 

' 

VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  railway  employds  {those  engaged  about  stations  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  Imevien,  railroad  laborers,  ^-c.)  in  New  Brunswick. 


Occupation*. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Conductors 

$52  00 
20  00 
50  00 

$60  00 
70  00 
60  00 
36  00 
36  00 
35  00 

Agents 

$30  00 

Drivers 

Firemen   

Brakempn 

Trackmen 

28  00 

30  00 

VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours    in   ship-yards  (distinguishing  between  iron   and  wood 
ship-building)  in  New  Brunswick. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest 


Carpenters  and  teamsters 

Ironers,  dubbers,  hobborers,  and  blacksmiths. 


$1  00 
1  00 


$1  50 
2  50 


Average. 


$1  30 
1  50 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 


103 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  between  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam — in  the  ports  of  Aew  Brunsirick. 


Occupationa. 


OCEAN,  SAIL. 


Masters 

Mate 

Set'oiid  mate     .    . . . 
Cook  and  ateward 

Able  seamen 

Carpenter 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


COASTWISE. 


Master 

Mate 

Cook  and  steward. 


$60  00  , 
28  00  ' 

22  00 ; 

28  00 

15  00 

16  00 


35  00 

24  00 

25  00 


$100  00 
40  00 
32  00 
45  00 
20  00 
22  00 


45  00 
27  00 
30  00 


Ayerage. 


$35  00 
25  00 
35  00 
18  00 
20  00 


40  00 
22  00 
27  00 


Note. — By  the  rnn  to  Great  Britain,  seamen  get  from  $30  to  $80,  depending  upon  the  demand. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  in  dry  goods  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females  in 
Saint  John,  New  Brunswick. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.     Highest.  \  Average. 


"Wholesale : 

Book  keepers. 

Salesmen 

Retail: 

Book-keepers. 

Clerks 

Apprentices.. 

Porters 


Salesmen. 


DBT  GOODS. 


$400  00 
550  00 

300  00 
300  00 
100  00 


BOOK  STOKES. 


$900  00 
2,  000  00 

1,  500  00 
800  00 
250  00 


750  00 


$600  00 
600  00 

600  00 
600  00 
200  00 
300  00 


450  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  (toivns  and  cities)  in  Saint  John,  .yetc  Bruns- 
wick. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest 

Highest. 

Average. 

$C  00 

5  00 

6  00 
25  00 

6  00 

$40  00 

8  00 

8  00 

30  00 

8  00 

$8  00 
7  00 

7  00 

25  00 

6  00 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  New 

Brunswick. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Farm  hands,  with  board  and  lodging I      $10  50 

Farm  hands,  without  board  and  lodging 20  00 


Highest. 


$18  00 
30  00 


Average. 


$14  00 
25  00 


Generally  fai-m  work  la  performed  by  the  farmer  himself  and  his  sons,  but  little  hiring  of  which 
labor  is  required. 


104  LABOR  IN  KORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

XII.  Corporation  employi&s. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Saint  John,  New  Brunswiclc. 
Occupations. 


Mayor $1,800  00 


Reconler 

Crown  clerk 

Police  masistrate 

Chamberlain 

Harbor-master  . . 

Clerks 1      200  00 

Inspector  of  buildings 

Censors |      400  00 

City  engineer ' 

Chief  fire  department  and  salvage  corps j 

Fire  department  genius  . 
Engineer  tire  department 

Firemen 

Superintendent  of  ferries 

Engineers 

Chief  police 

Sergeants,  police 

Policemen 

Laborers 


500  00 


150  00 


eoo  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  000  00 

1,  800  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  000  00 

400  00 

1,  800  00 

1,080  00 

1,  000  00 

432  00 

540  00 

90  00 

800  00 

672  00 

800  00 

600  00 

530  00 

350  00 


$700  00 
"  800  66 


250  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of  trades 
men  and  laborers,  in  New  Brunswick. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.  Average, 


Collectors 

Surveyors 

Chief  clerk 

Appraisees 

Landing  waiters  . 

Tide  waiters 

Gaugers 

Lockers 

Clerks 

Prev  officers 


Customs  department. 


$100 
750 


Tret  revenues. 


Collectors 

Excesance 

Inspectors 

Marine  and  fisheries  department. 

Agent 

Assistants  and  book-keeper 

Light-housekeepers 

Fog-whistle  and  light-house  keepers 


600 
260 
60 
750 
6.i0 
350 
100 


300 
400 
500 


80 
400 


Public  works. 


Engineers.. 
Foremen. .. 
Carpenters  . 
Laborers .  . . 
Pay  master. 


$3,  000 

1,  500 

1,  500 

1,000 

1,000 

650 

800 

650 

1,  200 

700 


1,400 
1,000 
1,800 


1,800 

800 

80 

1,000 


2,000 


$675 
1,080 


740 
700 
500 
775 
650 
665 
265 


850 
700 
900 


950 


80 
450 


,800 
900 
500 
250 
800 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  ivages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers)  <J'-c.,  in  New  Brnnswick. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$9  00 
6  00 
6  00 
1  50 

$12  00 

$10  50 

10  50 
10  50 
4  00 

9  00 

9  00 

2  50 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 


105 


PROVINCE  OF  NOVA  SCOTIA. 

HALIFAX. 

REPORT  BY  CONSVLOENERAL  FRTE. 

I  beg  to  submit  the  following  report,  containing  such  information  as 
I  have  been  able  to  obtain,  in  relation  to  the  rates  of  wages  and  the  con- 
dition of  labor  in  this  consular  district,  as  required  by  Department  "cir- 
cular of  February  15,  1881 : 

I.  General  trades. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.  '  Average 


BUILDING  TBADE6. 

Brick-layers  per  day. 

HoJ-carriers do. . . 

Masons      do. .. 

Tenders do . . . 

Plasterors do . . . 

Slaters do . . . 

Roofers do . . , 

Plumbers do . . , 

Carpenters do.. 

Gas-fitters do.. 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers. .  do.. 

Blacksmiths do . . 

Brewers do . . 

Brass-founders do. . 

Cabinet-makers per  week 

Coopers do. . 

Draymen  and  teamsters per  day 

Gardeners do.. 

Millwri<;hts  do. . 

Printers do . . 

Pressmen per  week 

Proof-readers do. . 

Saddle  and  harness  makers per  day 

Stevedores  per  hour 

Telegraph  operators per  month 

Tailors  (cutters) per  week 

Tailors  (pressmen) do. . 

Factories,  mills,  <&c. 

Carders per  week. 

Mule  spinners do. .. 

Ring  spinners do. .. 

Weavers do 

Slashers per  day. 

Foremen  do 

Foundries,  machine-shops  and  iron-works. 

Foremen per  daj 

Molders  per  week 

Machinists do.. 

Pattern-makers do. . 

Boiler-makers do. . 

Assistiuit  boiler-makers do.. 

Rivet  heaters do. . 

Blacksmiths do. . 


$2  56 

1  00 

2  50 

1  00 

2  00 
2  50 
1  75 
1  75 
1  50 
1  75 


1  35 

1  60 
1  00 
1  75 
8  00 
8  00 
1  00 

1  00 

2  00 
1  50 

7  00 

8  00 
1  25 

25 

25  00 

12  00 

6  00 


Gold  mining. 


Foremen 

Common  laborers 


5  00 
8  00 
4  00 
4  00 
1  50 
1  50 


2  00 

3  00 
3  00 
7  00 
9  00 
6  00 
3  00 
6  00 


1  50 
1  25 


$3  00 
1  25 
3  00 

1  25 

2  25 

3  00 
2  00 
2  25 
2  00 
2  00 


2  00 
2  50 

1  25 

2  00 
15  00 

9  00 
1  40 
1  50 

3  00 

1  50 
9  00 

15  00 

2  00 
35 

60  00 
25  00 
12  00 


6  00 
9  00 
5  00 

7  00 
3  50 
3  50 


4  00 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 
15  00 
7  50 
4  00 
12  00 


2  25 
1  50 


$3  00 
1  20 
3  00 

1  20 

2  00 

3  00 

1  75 

2  00 
1  80 
1  73 


1  60 

2  00 
1  15 
1  75 
9  00 
9  00 
1  25 


2  25 

1  50 

8  00 

12  00 

1  50 

35 

40  00 

12  00 

10  00 


2  50 

8  OO 

8  00 

9  00 
12  00 

7  00 

■^  50 

9  00 


1  75 
1  40 


106 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 

General  trades,  t^c,  in  Halifax — Continued. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.     Highest. 


Average. 


Coal  mining. 

TJnderground  laborers  per  day. 

TJn'lergronnd  boys'  work do... 

Kepairing,  Sec,  (above  ground) do  .. 

Pumping do 

Engineers !do  .. 

Piioraen      do . . . 

Blacksmiths do... 

Shipping  coal do... 

Banking do . . . 

Coal  cutting. per  gross  ton. 

Sail  vessels,  ocean  navigation. 

Masters per  month . 

llat(>8 do... 

Second  mates do  . . 

Able  seamen do... 

Ordinary  seamen do. . . 

Cooks do. .. 

Sail  vessels,  coasting. 

Masters per  month . 

Mates do... 

Able  seamen do . . . 

Ordinary  seamen do... 

Cooks do . . . 

Steam  vessels. 

First  engineers per  month. 

Second  engineers do... 

Third  engineers do  .. 

Firemen    do.. . 

Trimmers    do... 

Donkeymen do . . . 

Sailway  employes. 

Station  masters per  annum 

Telegraph  operators per  month 

Checkers do  . 

Porters per  day 

Conductors; 

Pas.senger per  month 

Ft  eight do.. 

Engineers do.. 

Firemen per  day 

Baggage -masters : 

Express per  month 

Other do. . 

Brakemen per  day 

Yard  masters do.'. 

Swit<dimen  and  shunters   do  . 

Track  ma.sters per  annum 

Track  foremen per  day 

Trackmen do.. 

Store  and  shop  wages. 

Salenraen per  annum.. 

Book. keepers do  ... 

Porters per  week. . 

Clerks    do 

Household  tcagcs. 

Male  servants per  month. . 

Cooks  (fem.ales) do 

Housemaids do 

Other  servants  (females) do 

Oovernment departments  andoffices.X 

Customs  officers  ;  at  Halifax : 

Collector  at  Halifax per  annum.. 

Port  surveyor do... 

Chief  clerk      do 

Chief  check  clerk do 

Clerk do... 

Cashier do 


$80 

40 

1  00 

1  20 

1  25 

8.5 

80 

55 

75 

47 


75  00 
45  00 
25  00 
16  00 
14  00 
30  00 


25  00 
10  00 
16  00 
12  00 
14  00 


70  00 
40  00 
40  00 
20  00 
18  00 
20  00 


300  00 

25  00 

*20 

1  25 


t2  00 

t2  00 

1  35 


tl  35 

1  35 

1  50 

1  25 

1,  200  00 

1  35 

1  00 


$1  40 

85 

1  50 

1  50 

2  25 
1  25 
1  50 
1  25 
1  60 

50 


100  00 
60  00 
30  00 
20  00 
18  09 
40  00 


35  00 
25  00 
19  00 
16  00 
22  00 


100  00 
80  00 
60  00 
25  00 
20  00 
25  00 


1,  300  00 

50  00 

50  00 

1  25 


10  00 
6  50 
5  00 
5  00 


70  00 

70  00 

1  35 


45  00 

1  35 

2  00 
1  50 

1,  200  00 
1  50 
1  25 


300  00  1,400  00 

40O  00  1,600  00 

6  00  8  00 

5  00  15  00 


20  00 

14  00 

8  00 

7  00 


*  Per  hour. 


t  Per  day. 


J  Exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 
General  trades,  ^-c,  in  Ha/i/ax-  Continued. 


107 


•  Occupationa. 


Government  departments  and  offices — Continued. 

Customs  officers  ;  at  Halifax — Continued  : 

Chief  cleik  leg.  ships per  annum 

Chief  wharf  clerk do. . 

Statistical  clerk do.. 

Apprai^era,  three,  each do. . 

Gaujier  and  proof  officer do.. 

Landiuir  waiters  (five) do. . 

Lockers  (thirteen  employed) do.. 

Tide  survevera do.. 

Other  subordinates do.. 

Halifax  post-office: 

Postmaster do 

Asxistant  postmaster <lo 

First-class  clrrk do 

Secoud-class  clerk  do 

Other  clerks,  carriers,  messengers do. 

Post. office  inspector do 

Assistant  post-office  inspector do 

Second-class  clerk do 

Third-class  clerk do 

Other  clerks     do.. 

Kailway   mail  service : 

Chief  clerk do 

Second-class  clerks 


Trades  and  labor,  city  employ. 
On  streets : 

Foremen per  week.. 

Laborers per  day.. 

On  water  works : 

Foremen,  pipe  layers,  &c per  week.. 

Laborers per  daj'.. 

Sugar  refining. 

Foremen  of  departments per  day . . ; 

Laborers  in  departments do  —  i 

Coopers do i 

Firemen do  ...I 

Ordinary  labor do. 


GENERAL   WAGrE — EXPLANATIONS. 


In  connection  with  the  subject  of  seamen's  wages  it  should  be  men- 
tioned that  a  hiffie  number  of  men  are  engaged  in  the  fishing  business, 
and  tliat  they  are  not  hired  as  other  seamen,  but  usually  sail  on  "shares," 
receiving  compensation  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  fish  they  catch. 
AVith  reference  to  the  wages  of  some  other  classes  of  laborers  it  may  be 
stated  that  they  are  often  ])ai(l  according  to  the  amount  of  labor  per- 
formed, a.s  when  sail  makers  are  paid  by  the  yard,  blacksmiths  by  the 
l)iece,  printers  by  the  thousand  ems,  &c. 

Farm  laborers  are  most  frequently  employed  for  the  spring,  summer, 
and  fall  season  at  a  certain  rate  per  month,  though  often  by  the  day, 
during  the  busy  season  of  haying,  &c.  They  are  generally  boarded 
by  their  employers,  receiving  per  month  from  $12  to  $17,  and  from 
$1.25  to  $1.75  per  day,  when  emi)loyed  only  during  the  busy  season. 
As  so  large  a  portion  of  laborers  are  employed  only  a  part  of  the  time, 
according  to  the  demand  for  labor,  it  is  dilliciilt  in  some  cases  to  estimate 
the  average  rates  paid  them.  There  are  not  in  Nova  Scotia  many  large 
factories,  mills,  or  shops  employing  regularly  a  great  number  of  men, 
and  consequently  there  is  less  system  and  regularity  in  the  matter  of 
wages  than  in  the  greater  manufacturing  districts. 


108  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

Under  the  civil  service  system  prevailing  in  the  Dominion  a  fee  or 
tax,  not  exceeding  in  amount  2  per  cent,  of  the  salary,  is  deducted  for 
the  superannuation  fund. 

About  one  hundred  teachers  are  employed  in  the  public  schools  of 
Halifax,  one-fourth  of  whom  are  males.  The  highest  salary  paid  to 
male  teachers  is  about  $1,450  per  year.  The  highest  to  females  is  $720. 
The  average  to  males  is  about  $665,  and  to  females  about  $260. 

COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  prices  of  some  of  the  necessaries  of  life  are  lower  than  in  the 
Eastern  States.  This  is  true  of  such  important  articles  as  beef,  mutton, 
fish,  potatoes,  and  some  vegetables.  The  estimated  difference  is  15  to 
20  per  cent.  Nova  Scotia  coal  is  largely  used  for  fuel,  except  on  farms 
supplied  with  wood  and  where  the  transportatiou  would  make  it  cost 
higher  than  wood.  It  is  sold  at  retail  in  Halifax  at  from  $5.50  to  $6.50 
per  chaldron  of  3,000  pounds.  Anthracite  coal,  which  is  brought  from 
the  United  States  and  is  subject  to  a  duty  of  50  cents  per  ton  of  2,000 
pounds,  is  not  largely  used  for  fuel.  Flour  is  from  50  cents  to  $L  higher 
per  barrel  than  in  New  England.  Corn-meal  is  imported  from  the 
United  States  and  is  higher  than  there.  Sugar,  molasses,  tea,  and  cof- 
fee are  about  the  same  here  as  there.  House  rents  vary  so  much  in 
different  localities  that  it  is  difficult  to  state  the  average  rates.  Houses 
rent  for  good  prices  in  Halifax,  but  the  rates  are  lower  in  the  smaller 
towns.  Household  furniture  is  higher  here  than  in  New  England  mar- 
kets and  the  quality  does  not  appear  to  be  so  good. 

Shoes  and  rubbers  are  from  15  to  20  x)er  cent,  higher  than  in  New 
England,  but  the  prices  of  most  articles  of  clothing  used  by  laboring 
men  are  about  the  same  here  as  there. 

WAGES   PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

The  rates  of  wages  have  increased  during  the  past  five  or  six  years, 
probably  from  1q  to  20  per  cent,  on  the  average.  The  cost  of  provisions 
and  the  common  necessaries  of  life  has  continued  about  the  same  and 
the  condition  of  the  laboring  classes  is  believed  to  be  slowly  improv- 
ing in  respect  to  the  comforts  of  life. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  laboring  classes  appear  to  be  as  steady  and  perhaps  as  trust- 
worthy and  as  economical  as  the  same  grades  of  laborers  in  the  United 
States.  Probably  intemperance  is  the  cause  affecting  their  habits  for 
evil  more  than  any  other,  though  its  effects  are  not  more  apparent  in 
Nova  Scotia  than  in  some  of  the  States  where  the  laws  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  liquor  selling  are  much  more  stringent. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

Generally  the  relations  are  amicable  between  laborers  and  their  em- 
ployers, and  this  coiulition  is*  of  course  favorable  to  the  interests  of  all 
parties. 

ORGANIZED   CONDITION   OF   LABOR. 

Labor  organizations  exist  to  some  extent,  but  have  not  been  prom- 
inent, nor  have  thev  affected  business  or  the  rates  of  wages  very  ma- 
terially.    Of  late,  h(3wever,  some  of  them  in  the  city  of  Halifax  have 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  109 

been  more  demonstrative,  and  their  members  have  united  in  demand- 
ing' better  terms  of  their  employers.  One  dollar  niid  fifty  cents  per  day 
is  demanded  by  laborers  on  the  wharves  and  others,  who  formeily  re- 
ceived $1.25.  In  some  cases  the  demands  have  been  co.mplied  with, 
thou<ih  the  differences  between  them  and  their  emjiloyers  have  not  yet 
been  tally  adjusted.  I  am  not  aware  of  the  existence  of  any  counter 
organizations  of  capital,  nor  of  any  laws  bearing  specially  on  such 
organizations. 

STRIKES. 

strikes  have  not  prevailed  largely  among  the  laborers  of  Nova  Scotia, 
though  one  occurred  last  year  in  the  coal  mines  of  Cape  Breton  neces- 
sitating the  interference  of  the  military  authorities.  It  was  finally  set- 
tled by  some  compromise,  and  did  not  have  any  very  important  effect 
on  the  interests  of  the  laborers  or  their  employers. 

FOOD  PURCHASES. 

Laborers,  as  a  rule,  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life  as  they  choose. 
They  are  generally  paid  weekly  or  monthly  in  the  common  currency  of 
the  country. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

None  exist  in  this  district,  nor,  so  far  as  I  am  informed,  in  ISTova 
Scotia. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING  PEOPLE. 

So  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge  by  observation  and  inquiry  the  condition 
of  the  laboring  people  in  this  province  is  not  very  materially  different 
from  that  of  people  of  similar  occupations  in  the  United  States ;  for 
instance  in  the  State  of  Maine,  between  which  and  Nova  Scotia,  in  re- 
spect to  climate,  the  extent  of  seaboard,  and  the  occupation  of  the  peo- 
l)le,  there  is  less  contrast  than  between  this  province  and  any  other 
State  in  the  Union.  Tlie  manner  in  which  the  people  of  both  live,  their 
homes,  their  food,  and  their  clothes,  are  very  similar,  though  with  some 
odds  in  favor  of  the  people  of  that  State.  With  economy,  sobriety,  and 
industry,  laborers  here,  with  or<linary  good  fortune,  can  and  do  better 
their  condition  year  by  year,  and  are  able  to  save  something  against  the 
time  of  need.  The  condition  of  the  schools  in  New  England  is  in  ad- 
vance of  it  here,  though  for  nearly  twenty  years  the  common-school 
system  has  been  in  oi)eration  in  Nova  Scotia,  greatly  to  the  advantage, 
no  doubt,  of  the  families  of  the  laboring  classes.  The  province  is  grad- 
ually improving  in  respect  to  popular  education.  The  moral  and  phys- 
ical condition  of  the  people  may  in  general  be  said  to  be  fairly  good. 

SAFETY   OF  EMPLOY^IS. 

Except  with  reference  to  the  coal-mines  it  is  not  of  great  importance 
in  this  report,  because  there  are  so  iew  large  factories  or  mills  where 
accidents  are  liable  to  occur.  In  most  cases,  I  am  informed,  fire-escapes 
are  provided,  as  well  as  practical  means  of  extinguishing  tires.  In  the 
coal-mines  great  precautions  against  accidents  of  all  kinds  are  provided 
by  law,  and  under  competent  and  careful  ofiicials  and  superintendents 
casualties  have  not  been  of  frequent  occurrence.  In  general,  I  do  not 
understand  that  employers  give  special  consideration  to  the  moral  and 
physical  well-being  of  their  workmen  and  tlieir  families,  though  in 


110  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

some  instances  they  do.  In  one  case  under  my  observation  the  pro- 
prietors of  a  manufacturing'  establishment  furnish  comfortable  cottages 
for  their  employes  at  a  fair  rental,  and  also  a  chapel  where  a  Sunday- 
school  or  other  religious  exercises  are  regularly  held  under  tlie  personal 
supervision  of  one  of  the  proprietors.  The  general  relations  prevailing 
between  the  two  classes  are  agreeable,  so  far  as  1  can  learn. 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS. 

The  political  rights  enjoyed  by  workingraen  in  Nova  Scotia  in  re- 
spect to  suffrage  are  defined  by  the  following  section  of  the  Revised 
Statutes : 

Every  male  subject  of  Hei*  Majesty,  by  birth  or  naturalization,  being  of  tbe  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  and  not  disqualified  by  law,  who  shall  have  been  assessed  for  the 
year  for  which  the  register  hereinafter  provided  is  made  up,  in  respect  of  real  estate 
to  the  value  of  $150,  or  in  respect  of  personal  estate,  or  of  i-eal  and  personal  estate 
together,  to  the  value  of  $300,  shall  be  qualified  to  vote  at  elections  of  members  to 
serve  in  the  house  of  assembly  for  the  county  in  which  he  shall  be  so  assessed. 

The  influence  of  workingmen  on  legislation  is  less  than  it  might  be 
if  they  exercised  their  political  rights  with  more  freedom  and  took 
greater  interest  in  politics  and  the  affairs  of  government.  The  work- 
ing people  have  their  full  share  of  taxation  according  to  the  property 
they  own.  Until  1883  tenants  of  all  houses  in  Halifax  were  held  to  jiay 
the  taxes  against  the  premises,  there  being  no  lien  on  the  property  for 
the  taxes.  The  law  has  been  amended  in  this  respect,  the  tax  being 
now  assessed  to  the  owner  with  a  lien  on  the  property. 

EMIGRATION. 

The  causes  of  emigration  are  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  emigrants 
to  improve  their  condition,  and  the  belief  that  it  will  be  improved  by 
emigration  to  the  United  States,  where  better  wages  than  here  are  paid 
and  more  constant  employment  given.  Emigrants  are  in  great  part 
mechanics  and  laborers,  house  maids,  cooks,  and  young  women  who 
seek  employment  in  the  New  England  factories.  They  find  steadier 
employment  and  better  wages  there  than  here,  and  many,  though  not 
all,  remain  permanently  in  the  United  States.  According  to  the  pub- 
lished report  from  the  Bureau  of  Statistics  (the  correctness  of  which 
as  to  emigration  from  Nova  Scotia  I  have  never  seen  dis{)uted),  the 
number  of  emigrants  to  the  United  States  from  Nova  Scotia  in  1883 
was  6,435;  for  the  year  1882,  it  was  12,093;  for  1881,  12,425;  and  for 
1880,  17,870.  It  has  been  a  serious  fact  for  the  province  that  so  many 
of  its  people  have  removed  to  the  United  States  and  ro  the  Northwest. 
Any  one  acquainted  with  the  resources  of  the  province  cannot  doubt 
that  they  are  sufficient  to  support  aud  employ  a  much  larger  population 
than  it  now  contains. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

It  is  impracticable  to  attempt  to  ascertain  the  number  of  women  and 
children  employed  in  the  different  industrial  pursuits  in  this  consular 
district,  as  the  number  is  comi)aratively  small,  outside  of  teachers  iu 
the  public  schools.  A  limited  number  is  employed  in  the  mills  and  as 
clerks,  boarding-house  keepers,  and  laundresses,  and  a  still  smaller  pro- 
portion as  musicians,  government  officials,  artists,  chemists,  hotel- 
kee[)ers,  inventors,  bankers,  brokers,  lecturers,  and  public  speakers. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA.  Ill 

The  rate  of  wag:es  of  etnployds  is  various,  ranging  from  perhai)s  $3 
per  week,  as  a  niininiutn  for  clerks,  to  $7oO  per  year  as  a  niaxininni  for 
teachers.     The  estimated  average,  without  board,  is  $200  per  year. 

Their  moral  and  physical  condition,  generally  speaking,  isfairlj' good; 
corresponding  very  well  with  the  condition  of  the  same  classes  of  labor- 
ers in  New  England.  In  education,  teachers  excepted,  they  are  not  up 
to  the  average  of  em[)loy6s  of  corresponding  classes  there,  but  their 
children  generally  have  the  benefit  of  public  schools,  aud  the  tendency 
is  toward  an  improved  condition. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

I  must  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  the  gentlemen  named  below, 
among  others,  for  information  courteously  furnished  for  this  report: 
H«)n.  William  Ross,  collector  of  customs  ;  H.  W.Elackadar,  postmaster; 
E.  Borradaile,  inspector  of  internal  revenue ;  S.  M.  Brookfield,  con- 
tractor and  builder ;  Roderick  McDonald,  freight  agent  Intercolonial 
Railway  ;  William  McKerron,  secretary  of  the  Nova  Scotia  Poultry  and 
Bee-keeping  Association  ;  Gordon  &  Keith,  furniture  manufacturers  and 
dealers;  John  P.  Mott  &  Co.,  spice  manufacturers;  George  Stairs,  su- 
l)erinteudent  of  the  Dartmouth  Rope  Works;  John  Doull,  president  of 
the  Nova  Scotia  Cotton  Manufacturing  Company  ;  J.  T.  AVylde,  secre- 
tary of  the  Starr  ]\[.inufacturing  Company ;  Mahon  Brothers,  dry  goods 
merchants  ;  C.  &  W.  Anderson,  merchants  ;  J.  B.  Johnson,  clerk  of  city 
board  of  works ;  E.  P.  Archibald,  treasurer  Glace  Bay  Mining  Company ; 
W.  L.  Lowell,  banker ;  John  Patterson,  boiler  manufacturer ;  A.  B.  and 
H.  Bligh,  shipping  commissioners  ;  Pickford  &  Black,  merchants,  all  of 
Halifax  ;  also  to  the  following  United  States  consular  agents  in  this  dis- 
trict ;  D.  M.  Owen,  esq.,  Lunenburg  ;  J.  N.  S.  Marshall,  esq.,  Liverpool ; 
aud  Hon.  N.  W.  White,  Shelburue. 

WAKEFIELD  G.  FRYE, 

Consul- General. 

United  States  Consulate-General, 

Halifax,  May  23,  1884 


PRINCE  EDWARD  ISLAND. 

BEPORT  BY  CONSUL  WORDEN,  OF  OHARLOTTETOWN. 

.    I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  my  report  concerning  the  con- 
dition of  labor  in  the  province  of  Prince  Edward  Island. 

The  report  has  been  })re'pared  with  a  good  deal  of  care,  through  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  Hyudman,  vice  aud  deputj'  consul. 

COST   OF  LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  in  the  province  is  rather  below  than  above  the 
average.  Meat  can  be  purchased  at  from  10  to  14  cents  per  pound, 
aud  by  the  quarter  at  a  price  still  less.  Fish  of  various  kinds  is  abundant 
and  cheai>.  Clothing  is  as  cheap  or  cheaper  than  at  home,  and  rents 
are  quite  as  low.  Vegetables  are  abundaut.  But  little  fruit  is  grown 
in  the  province,  the  soil  not  seeming  adapted  to  it.  Fuel,  both  wood 
and  coal,  is  very  reasonable,  the  coal  being  procured  from  the  ueigh- 
boriug  i)rovince  of  Nova  Scotia  and  Cape  Breton  island.  Soft  coal, 
the  only  coal  produced,  varies  in  price  from  $2.50  to  $3.75  per  ton. 


112 


LABOE    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


CONDITION    OF    THE   LABORING   CLASSES. 

The  condition  of  the  laboring  class  is  probably  rendered  better  by 
the  enforcement  of  what  is  called  the  "  Scott  act."  This  act  prevails 
throughout  the  province,  and  by  its  adoption  prohibits  the  granting'of 
licenses  and  sale  of  malt  or  spirituous  liquors. 

There  are  no  trades  unions  nor  organizations  for  the  protection  of 
labor. 

The  population  of  the  province  numbers  about  110,000.  There  is  not 
sufficient  consumption  of  manufactured  articles  to  warrant  any  ex- 
tended manufactories,  and  the  greater  part  are  imported  from  the  other 
IDrovinces,  the  United  States,  or  Great  Britain. 

There  are  in  the  island  two  Government  hospitals  into  which  seamen 
are  admitted.  By  a  late  act  of  the  Dominion  Parliament  the  dues  here- 
tofore paid  by  American  vessels  are  not  now  received,  and  m  conse- 
quence lam  advised  that  seamen  of  our  service  are  refused  admittance. 

I  trust  that  the  requirements  called  for  by  the  circular  have  been 
in  part  met,  and  that  the  information  may  be  in  some  degree  serviceable. 

WARREN  A.  WORDEN, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Charlottetown,  July  22, 1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Charlottetown. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

Hqdcarriers 

Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Slaters  

Roofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants 

Cari)euters 

Gas-fitters 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Book-binders 

Brick-makers 

Brewers 

Butchers 

Cabinetmakers 

Confectioners 

Coopers 

Drivers 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab"  and  carriage 

Gardeners 

Horseshoera 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Millwrights 

Potters 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  schools 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$12  00 

$12  00 

$12  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

12  00 

12  00 

12  09 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

9  00 

12  00 

10  50 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

15  00 

15  00 

15  00 

9  00 

12  00 

10  50 

G  00 

6  00 

6  00 

8  00 

10  00 

9  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

9  00 

7  50 

8  00 

9  00 

8  50 

4  00 

6  00 

5  00 

9  00 

10  00 

9  50 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

4  00 

10  00 

7  00 

6  00 

9  00 

7  50 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

4  00 

6  00 

5  00 

6  00 

10  00 

8  00 

4  00 

6  00 

5  00 

6  00 

8  00 

7  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

4  00 

6  00 

5  00 

9  00 

9  00 

9  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

5  00 

7  00 

6  00 

7  50 

9  00 

8  25 

6  00 

15  00 

10  50 

4  00 

7  00 

5  50 

6  00 

20  00 

13  00 

LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 
Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  CharJotietown — Continued. 


113 


Occnpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Other  trades — Contintted. 

$7  50 
9  00 

12  00 
5  00 

10  00 

5  00 

7  on 

6  00 

$7  50 
12  00 
12  00 

ti  00 
14  00 
10  00 

9  00 
12  00 

$7  50 

10  50 

12  00 

5  50 

12  00 

7  50 

8  00 

Boot  aucl  shoe  makers 

9  00 

II.   FACTOErES,  MILLS,  ETC. 
Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Prince  Edieard  Island. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

WOOLEN  MILLS.* 

$12  00 

1         3  00 

7  50 

7  00 

3  00 

$18  00 
5  00 
7  50 
12  00 
10  00 

$15  00 

J 

4  00 

7  50 

9  50 

6  50 

6  00 

STAUCH  FACTORIES,  t 

20  00 

Other  bauds                                                                   i 

6  00 

*  There  are  two  woolen  mills  in  the  island  :  each  employ  ahout  forty  hands.  — 

t  Tliere  are  ten  starch  factories  in  Prince  Edward  Isl.ind,  which  produce  ahont  2.50  tons  of  starch  an- 
nnally,  nianniactnred  solely  from  potatoes.  They  work  only  between  25tli  September  and  1st  Decem- 
her,  and  employ  about  twenty  hands  each.  The  starch  is  exported  to  United  Kingdom  principally. 
Some  small  shipments  go  to  tipper  Canada  and  the  United  States. 

LOBSTER,   MEAT,  AND  MACKKKEL  FACTORIES. 

In  18^*3  there  were  eijfbty-eiglit  factories  on  the  island,  employing  about  2,600  men 
and  l,(iOO  women.  The  men  get  on  an  average  $1  per  day,  and  women  50  cents  per 
day  w  lien  employed.  Those  factories  turned  out  about  56,000  cases  of  4-dozen  1-ponnd 
caii.s  of  lobsters,  vahio  about  §280,000. 

After  the  lobster  season  is  over  in  many  of  the  factories  the  canning  of  mackerel  is 
carried  on.  In  1883  there  were  4,313  cases  of  48  1-pound  tins  of  mackerel  preserved, 
value,  $17,622. 

Alter  the  mackerel  season  is  over  some  few  factories  pack  meats,  mutton  and  beef 
principally.     In  1883  there  were  7,236  cases  of  48  1-pound  tins  put  up,  value,  $32,765. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  tveek  of  sixty  hours  iv  foundrirs,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Prince 

Edward  Island. 


Occupations. 


Machinists 

Holders  and  brass  founders 
Smiths 


Average  I 


$0  00 
9  00 
8  00 


Occupations. 


Average 
wage^. 


Boiler -makers $9  00 

Pattern-makers 8  00 

Laborers 1  6  00 


^There  are  two  foundries  and  machine-shops  in  Prince  Edward  Island,  and  employ  on  an  average 
fortv-five  hands. 


92  A— 2  LAB- 


'S* 


114 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    CANADA. 


VI.  Railway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  employes  (those  engaried  aiout  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  lintnun, railroad  laborers,  ^-c.)  in  t'rince  Edward  Island. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Station-masters per  month.. 

Cleik.s do... 

Conductora do 

Bagffage-raasters per  day. . 

Brakenien do 

Enjiineers do 

Fiieraen do 

Machinists do 

Carpi;ntfirs do 

Sectionraen do 

Laborers do 


$30  00 
30  00 


1  35 

1  25 

2  15 
1  15 
1  50 
1  40 

1  00  \ 
1  00  i 


$80  00 
70  00 


1  35 

1  25 

2  40 

1  35 

2  20 
1  70 
1  50 
1  25 


$55  00 

50  00 

55  00 

1  35 


25 
.SO 
25 
85 
55 
25 
12i 


There  are  200  miles  of  railway  in  Prince  Edward  Island,  owned  and  operated  by  the  Government  of 
Canada. 

VII.  Ship-yards  and  SHip-BuiLDiNa. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  ship-yards  in  Prince  Edward  Island. 


Occupations. 


Foremen 4 

Carpenters 

Calkers 


Lowest.     Highest.    Average. 


$12  00 
5  00 
9  00 


$15  00 

7  00 

12  00 


$13  .50 
6  00 
10  50 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  {officers  and  men),  disiingnishing  hetween  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  btiiveen  sail  and  steam,  in  Prince  Edxoard  Island. 


Occupations. 


Coasting  and  river  navigation : 

Masters 

Mates 

Seamen _.. 

Ocean-going  vessels  (sailing) : 

Masters 

Mates 

Seamen 

Cooks 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$30  00 

$40  00 

20  00 

30  00 

15  00 

20  00 

40  00 

80  00 

20  00 

35  on 

16  00 

25  00 

25  00 

35  00 

Average. 


$35  00 
25  00 
17  50 

60  00 
27  50 
20  .50 
30  00 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in 

Prince  Edward  Island. 


Occapations. 


Salesmen 

Clerks 

Book-keepers 
Shop-boys — 


Lowest. 


$2  00 
2  00 
8  00 
1  00 


Highest. 


fl2  00 

12  00 

20  00 

2  00 


Average. 


$7  oa 
7  OO 

14  00 
1  50 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  with  board  to  household  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  Prince  Edward 

Island. 


Occnpationa. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$7  00 
4  00 

$20  00 
8  00 

$13  50 

6  0<V 

LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  CANADA. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 


115 


Wages  paid  per  mouth  to  aqricidturol  lahorcru  and  household  (country)  so-rania  in  I'rinoe 
Edward  Island,  with  board  a)td  lodyimj. 


OccnpatioDS. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Farm  laborers . 

$10  00 

$20  00 

$15  00 

XII.   COKPORATION  EMPLGYl^S. 

Wages  paid  per  xceek  of  sixti/  hours  to  the  corporation  employed  tii  the  city  of  Charlotte- 
town,  rrince  Edward  Inland. 


Occnpations. 


City  marshal,  chief  of  police. 

rolicfiiirn 

Liiliorei  H 

City  clerk 

Stipoudiary  niajristrato 

StipL'iidiary  clerk 


Lowest. 


$7  00 


Highest. 


$8  00 


*1.000  00 
"600  00 


Average. 


$10  00 

7  50 

6  00 

IG  00 


*  Per  annum. 

Mayor  and  ten  councilors :    The  former  is  paid  $325  per  annum  ;  the  coiincilmen  are  without  remu- 
neration. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  7nonth  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  hours  to  emplouh  in  government  departments 
and  offices — exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers — in  Frince  .Edward  Island. 


Occupations. 

1  Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$125  00 
80  00 

$35  00 

$C5  00 

50  00 

1 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  week  of  sixty  hours  to  the  trades  and  laborers  in  government  employ  in 

Frince  Edward  Island. 


1 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$12  00 
12  00 
9  00 
6  00 

$18  00 
18  00 
15  00 
9  00 

$15  00 
15  00 

12  00 

Laborei's --        --             --     -    

7  50 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

atatvment  showing  the  tcages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  ^'c),  in  Prince  Edward  Island. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$G  00 

5  00 

6  00 
12  00 

$12  00 
8  00 
10  00 
15  00 

$9  00 
6  50 

8  00 

13  50 

Proof  readini:  is  usually  done  by  tlio  editor  or  proprietor.    There  are  two  daily  papers  and  six  weekly 
papers  published  in  Prince  Edward  Island. 


116  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO. 


MEXICO. 

REPORT  BT  00NST7L-GENERAL  STROTHBR. 
MALE   LABOR. 

The  rates  of  wages  paid  to  laborers  of  every  class,  mecliauical,  rain- 
ing, factory,  public  works  and  railways,  domestic,  agricultural,  and  civil 
and  military  employes  of  the  Government,  are  given  in  the  tables  an- 
nexed to  this  report. 

COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  is  variable,  and  it  would  be 
difficult  to  estimate  it  with  accuracy.  On  account  of  the  mildness  of 
the  climate  the  necessary  requirements  of  living  here  in  food,  clothing, 
fuel,  and  shelter,  are  very  much  less  than  among  jieople  inhabiting  the 
temijerate  and  more  northern  latitudes,  and  among  the  laboring  classes 
the  average  scale  of  living  is  lower  than  among  any  class  we  kuosv  of 
in  the  United  States,  not  excepting  the  free  negroes  in  the  Southern 
States,  and  decidedly  inferior  in  comfort  and  neatness  to  that  class  when 
in  a  state  of  slavery.  The  dwellings  of  the  laboring  classes  in  the  cities 
are  generally  wanting  in  all  the  requirements  of  health  and  comfort — 
mostly  rooms  on  the  ground  floor,  without  proper  light  or  ventilation, 
often  with  but  a  single  opening  (that  for  entrance!,  dirt  floors,  and  no 
drainage.  Tliese  rooms  rent  from  $1  to  $5  per  month,  singly  or  in  suits 
of  two  or  three  together.  Of  late  years,  however,  proprietors  have  been 
building  much  better  tenements,  with  wooden  floors  raised  several  feet 
above  the  ground,  neat,  light,  and  airy,  opening  on  courts  ornamented 
with  trees  and  shrubbery,  supplied  with  water,  paved  and  drained. 
*' Viviendas,"  with  two  or  three  rooms  and  a  kitchen  in  these  houses 
may  be  rented  for  from  $5  to  $10  per  month.  In  the  suburbs  and  in 
the  country  the  dwellings  of  the  cold  regions  are  of  adobe  and  in  the 
temperate  and  warm  countries  mere  huts  of  cane  or  stakes  wattled  with 
twigs,  and  sometimes  plastered  with  mud  and  roofed  with  plantain 
leaves,  corn-stalks,  or  brush.  These  dwellings  are,  I  believe,  generally 
the  property  of  the  occupants.  In  the  cities,  as  in  the  country,  the  com- 
mon laborers  use  neither  beds,  chairs,  nor  tables,  the  only  furniture 
seen  in  their  dwellings  being  a  variety  of  earthen  vessels  to  hold  their 
food  and  drink  and  for  cooking,  a  "metate"  or  flat  stone,  with  a  roller 
to  grind  their  corn,  and  some  rolls  of  rush  matting,  wliich  constitutes 
their  beds  and  bedding.  Their  ])rinci))al  food  is  of  Indian  corn  ground 
by  hand  on  the  stone  belbre  mentioned  and  b^iked  in  a  thin  cake  called 
'•tortilla."  This  is  the  universal  bread  of  tlie  Indian  race  and  the 
laboiing  classes  in  Mexico,  and  is  eaten  with  boiled  beans  (frijoles),  an- 
other national  dish,  with  meat  boiled  or  fried  and  a  savory  sauce  made 
of  li)rd,  red  peppers,  onions,  cheese,  and  other  strong  flavoring  ingredi- 
ents to  suit  X\\i^  taste.  The  national  beverage  is  puhpu^,  the  fermented 
juice  of  the  maguey  plant,  a  li(pn)r  reseiiibling  in  apjiearance  and  flavor 
H  mixture  of  hard  cider  and  sharj)  buttermilk, witli  an  appreciable  scent 
of  putrid  flesh  from  the  fresh  hides  in  wliich  it  is  fermented.  This 
beverage,  ttiken  in  moderation,  is  iei)uted  to  be  very  healthy  and  no 
Mexican  laborer  or  operative  considers  his  meal  comi)lete  without  his 
portion  of  pulque.     The  average  cost  of  living  (food  and  drink)  for  a 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO.  117 

laboring?  man  in  the  city  is  about  25  cents  i)er  day;  in  the  country  from 
12^  to  18  cents.  The  usnal  clothinp:  of  the  male  laborer  all  over  the 
Eei)ublic  consists  of  a  shirt  and  i)antaloons  of  "manta,"  a  domestic  un- 
bleached cotton  cloth,  a  zerape  or  blanket  of  some  woolen  material, 
vegetable  fiber,  or  rush  mattinji'.  Hats  of  straw  or  palm-leaf,  and  if 
shod  at  all  it  is  with  sandals  of  raw  hide.  The  women  are  shod  and 
hatted  as  the  men,  but  alfcct  gayer  colors  in  their  petticoats  and  rebosas. 
The  average  annual  cost  of  a  man's  dress  is  probably  not  over  $5;  that 
of  a  M^oman  double  tliat  sum,  perhaps,  with  an  undetermined  margin 
for  gew-gaws  and  cheap  jewelry.  The  Indians,  who  constitute  the  labor- 
ing class  of  the  country  both  in  cities  and  country,  adhere  tenaciously 
to  the  dress,  food,  and  manner  of  living  inherited  from  their  ancestors; 
even  the  women  employed  as  domestic  servants  in  the  cities  carefully 
avoiding  any  imitation  of  the  dress  or  modes  of  life  pertaining  to  the 
upper  classes.  Among  the  artisan  class  and  workers  in  factories,  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  of  European  stock,  the  ordinary  European  dress 
and  habits  of  these  classes  i)revail. 

PAST  AND  PRESENT  WAGES. 

I  have  no  precise  data  whereon  to  base  an  intelligent  answer  to  the 
foregoing  interrogatory.  From  1880  to  1883,  while  the  Mexican  Govern- 
ment and  various  foreign  companies  were  very  actively  engaged  in 
building  railroads  and  other  private  and  national  improvements,  there 
was  a  general  demand  for  laborers,  and  consequently  wages  were  in- 
creased temporarily  in  certain  localities  where  the  improvements  were 
going  on.  But  since  these  works  have  been  completed  or  stopped  for 
lack  of  funds,  and  the  general  prostration  of  business  throughout  the 
country,  wages  have  i)robably  settled  down  to  their  level  in  1878  and 
1879,  and  in  the  localities  where  there  has  been  a  temporary  inflation 
the  general  condition  of  labor  is  rather  worse  than  formerly. 

HABITS  OF   THE  WORKING  CLASSES. 

I  have  heard  the  agricultural  laborers  of  this  country  very  favorably 
spoken  of  as  industrious,  faithful,  and  easily  managed.  Their  peculiar 
attachment  to  the  place  of  their  nativity  binds  them  as  closely  to  their 
employers  and  the  soil  they  cultivate  as  did  their  former  peonage.  En- 
franchised by  law  they  are  still  to  a  great  extent  the  slaves  of  habit  and 
local  attachments,  and  our  road  builders  in  this  country  have  found  that 
they  could  only  rely  upon  the  labor  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of 
their  line  of  construction,  and  that  neither  money  nor  persuasion  would 
induce  any  number  of  these  people  to  follow  their  work  any  distance 
from  their  native  fields  and  villages.  They  also  preserve  the  same  feudal 
fidelity  to  the  great  agricultural,  mineral,  and  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, where  they  and  their  families  have  been  employed,  often  for  suc- 
cessive generations,  and  a  threat  of ''discharge"  will  bring  the  most  re- 
bellious and  refractory  subject  to  his  knees.  I  have  also  been  very  fa- 
vorably impressed  with  the  orderly  behavior,  decent  manners,  and  intel- 
ligence of  the  employes  in  the  cotton  factories,  sugar  houses,  mines,  and 
other  establishments  in  this  district.  As  a  rule,  none  of  tlie  working 
classes  ha^  any  idea  of  present  economy  or  of  providing  for  the  future. 
The  lives  of  most  of  them  seem  to  be  occupied  in  obtaining  food  and 
amusement  for  the  passing  hour,  without  either  hope  or  desire  for  a 
better  future.  As  the  strongest  ])roof  of  this  imf)rovidence  in  the 
city  mechanic  or  laborers  is  the  common  demand  for  money  in  advance 


118  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA;    MEXICO. 

from  the  mecbauic,  under  the  pretext  of  getting  materials  to  enable  him 
to  fill  your  order;  from  the  laborer,  to  get  something  to  eat  before  he 
begins  work.  The  prevalent  vices  in  Mexico  are  gambling,  drunkenness, 
and  fighting,  the  Indian  population  being  especially  hasty  with  their 
knives.  In  the  capital  the  laborer  is  subject  to  many  demoralizing  in- 
fluences. In  summing  up  the  characteristics  of  the  Mexican  laborer 
it  may  be  said,  that,  with  less  capacity  and  intelligence,  he  is  more  patient, 
docile,  and  contented  than  his  fellow  laborer  of  the  north,  and  conse- 
quently less  eflicient,  but  more  easily  managed. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER   AND   EMPLOY^. 

The  laboring  classes  in  Mexico  are  chiefly  Indians  of  a  different  race 
from  their  employers — a  race  once  conquered,  then  enslaved,  then  liber- 
ated by  law,  but  so  bound  by  habit  and  necessity,  that,  except  in  the 
cities,  there  is  very  little  appreciable  change  in  their  condition,  and  while 
the  laborer  remains  ignorant,  poor,  and  dependent,  he  is  naturally  very 
respectful  and  submissive,  but  there  is  very  little  sympathy  or  cordiality 
in  the  relations  between  him  and  his  former  master  and  present  em- 
ployer in  the  agricultural  districts,  and  still  less  in  cities  and  manufactur- 
ing establishments,  where  the  operatives  are  better  educated  and  where 
the  power  of  habit  has  not  modified  the  prejudices  of  race  and  the  jeal- 
ousies of  caste.  Nevertheless,  the  relations  between  Mexican  families 
and  their  domestic  servants  in  town  and  country  are  much  more  cordial 
and  intimate  than  is  usual  among  people  of  the  English  race,  and  the 
numerous  instances  of  considerate  sympathy  and  romantic  fidelity  be- 
tw^een  employer  and  employ^  of  this  class,  are  creditable  to  the  manners 
and  hearts  of  both. 

ORGANIZED   CONDITION   OF   LABOR. 

As  far  as  I  am  informed  the  only  organizations  of  labor  in  this  coun- 
try, are  mutual  aid  societies,  each  member  contributing  a  certain  pro- 
portion of  his  earnings  to  the  general  fund,  for  which  he  is  entitled  to 
assistance  whan  disabled  by  sickness,  expenses  of  burial  in  case  of 
death,  and  aid  to  his  surviving  family  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances.  Beyond  this  limited  and  temporary  pecuniary 
assistance,  we  do  not  believe  these  organizations  have  done  anything  to 
advance  the  general  character  and  condition  of  the  laborer.  The  laborer 
in  this  country  is  too  i)oor  and  dependent,  and  his  capacity  for  organiza- 
tion too  feeble  to  provoke  counter  organization  of  capital,  consequently 
nothing  of  the  kind  exists  here  that  we  are  aware  of,  nor  any  laws  touch- 
ing the  subject. 

THE  PREVALENCY  OF  STRIKES. 

Strikes  are  not  infrequent  in  Mexico,  and  owing  to  the  uneducated 
condition  of  the  laborers  they  are  apt  to  degenerate  into  riots  and  are 
l)ronjptly  sup])ressed  by  the  authorities.  AYhere  conducted  on  better 
j)riuci])les  the  poverty  and  lack  of  provision  of  the  laborers  is  so  general 
that  the  movement  speedily  starves  out  and  very  rarely  terminates  ad- 
vantageously for  the  strikers.  Kecently  strikes  have  taken  place  in 
some  ot  the  neighboring  cities  which  have  continued  longer  than  usual. 
They  have  been  conducted  in  an  oiderly  manner  and  several  attempts 
were  made  to  settle  the  diflerences  by  arbitration,  some  of  which  failed. 
We  are  not  informed  as  to  particulars  or  whether  the  difficulties  are  yet 
settled.     It  may  be  easily  understood,  however,  that  the  laborer,  who, 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO.  119 

witliout  resources,  without  ideas  of  economy,  and  living  habitually  from 
hand  to  mouth,  enters  into  a  contest  with  capital,  can  scarcely  escape 
defeat  and  disaster. 

FREEDOM  OF  FOOD  PURCHASES. 

The  laborers  of  all  classes  are  entirely  free  to  purchase  the  necessaries 
of  liie  where  they  ])lease,  althouoh  it  is  common  for  the  employers  in 
large  establishments  to  open  furnishing  stores  for  their  employes  as  a 
matter  of  mutual  convenience.  They  have  also  the  legal  right  in  all 
cases  to  draw  their  pay  in  the  current  silver  coiu  of  the  country,  al- 
though in  some  instances  paper  checks,  receivable  for  goods  and  sup- 
plies, are  accepted  by  the  employes,  likewise  for  the  sake  of  conven- 
ience. 

SAFETY   OF  EMPLOYES. 

Owing  to  the  style  of  building  in  Mexico,  the  factories,  mills,  «&c.,  be- 
ing built  universally  of  stone  and  cement,  stone  stairways,  brick  floors 
and  roofs,  the  climate  not  requiring  stoves  or  any  artificial  heating  ap- 
paratus, and  the  buildings  generally  being  not  over  two  stories  in  height, 
very  rarely  over  three  stories,  the  danger  to  life  and  property  from  fires 
is  very  small.  Nevertheless,  in  some  of  the  principal  establishments, 
"where  the  floors  are  of  wood  and  an  accumulation  of  combustible  and 
inflammable  material  make  some  precautious  against  fire  necessary 
(notably  at  the  "  Fabrica  of  the  Hercules,"  at  Queretaro),  I  have  observed 
the  following:  steam  fire  pumps,  with  hose  connected  with  every  room 
in  the  building;  rows  of  buckets  filled  with  water  in  the  entries,  store- 
rooms, and  galleries,  with  hand-pumi)s  ready  to  distribute  it;  spongy 
blankets  hanging  along  the  walls,  kept  always  wet  for  a  sudden  emer- 
gency. Arrangements  of  a  similar  character,  more  or  less  eificient,  are 
found  in  other  fiictories,  while  some  have  adopted  Babcock's  extin- 
guisher and  other  patented  chemical  a])paratus  for  fighting  fire.  Oc- 
casional losses  of  material  and  machinery  occur  in  the  factories,  but  we 
very  rarely  hear  of  any  loss  of  life  by  fire. 

Many  of  the  principal  mines  in  the  country  are  worked  by  Englishmen 
and  Americans,  and  all  the  railroads  that  we  know  of  are  worked  by 
€xx)erts  from  the  (Juited  States  or  Great  Britain,  and  as  far  as  we  have 
been  able  to  observe  the  same  rules  and  precautions  prevail  here  as  in 
the  countries  named.  We  know  of  no  provisions  for  assisting  the  sick 
or  wounded  miners  or  railroad  men  except  the  mutual  aid  societies  or 
voluntary  subscriptions  by  their  fellow  workmen.  The  character  of  the 
relations  between  em])loyer  and  employe  is  treated  in  the  reply  to  ques- 
tion No.  5,  and  it  njay  be  said  further  that  generally  the  employer  gives 
but  little  consideration  either  to  the  physical  or  moral  well-being  of  his 
■workmen,  many  of  the  owners  of  extensive  agricultural  estates  and 
manufacturing  establishments  being  habitual  absentees  and  knowing 
nothing  of  their  employes  except  through  their  overseers  and  superin- 
tendents. There  are  doubtless  many  exceptions  to  this  rule,  of  several 
of  which  we  have  ])ers()nal  knowledge.  Tiiese  are  large  landed  propri- 
etors and  manufacturers  who  live  on  their  places  and  who,  moved  by 
sentiments  of  humanity  as  well  as  more  enlightened  views  of  interest, 
have  given  considerable  attention  to  the  education  and  improvement 
of  their  employes  and  families.  The  working  population  of  Miraflores, 
an  English  cotton  factory  near  this  city,  may  be  cited  as  an  example  of 
the  gratifying  success  wbich  has  attended  the  eflbrts  of  the  proprietors 
to  imi)rove  the  moral  and  physical  condition  of  their  Mexican  employes 


120  LABOR    IN   NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS   OF   WOEKINGMEN. 

By  the  Mexican  constitution  all  adult  male  citizens  of  the  republic 
are  invested  with  full  and  equal  political  rights,  including  the  right  to 
vote  at  elections,  to  hold  office,  &c.,  but  the  great  majority  of  the  peo- 
ple, including  the  working  classes,  take  no  part  whatever  in  the  elec- 
tions, local  or  general,  nor  are  they  supposed  to  exercise  any  influence 
on  legislation  in  a  legitimate  waj^  although  they  occasionally  manifest 
their  opinions  by  tumultuous  assemblage  and  mob  violence,  thus  influ- 
encing legislation  in  a  greater  or  less  degiee.  There  is  no  director  per- 
sonal tax  imposed  on  laborers  or  workingmen  of  any  class.  There  are,, 
however,  taxes  on  i>roduction  and  consumption  which  affect  the  work- 
ing classes  equally  with  all  other  citizens.  There  are  also  taxes  on  in- 
comes and  license  taxes  on  trades  which  affect  the  artisan  directly  and 
the  journeymen  indirectly. 

EMIGRATION. 

As  heretofore  stated,  the  native  Mexican  laborer  is  remarkable  for  the  , 
strength  of  his  local  attachments,  and  he  never  emigrates  voluntarily. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

The  i^roportion  of  women  and  children  employed  in  factories,  cigar- 
making,  &c.,  is  estimated  at  about  50  per  cent. 

In  the  city  there  are  shop  girls  and  saleswomen  in  a  few  of  the  fancy 
and  dry  goods  stcres.  Pastry  and  candy  shops,  for  the  most  part,  are 
carried  on  by  foreigners,  French  and  Germans.  The  proportion  of  females 
employed  in  commercial  houses  is,  however,  very  insignificant.  In 
general  transportation  I  am  not  aware  that  females  aiipear  at  all,  but 
in  the  transportation  which  is  done  by  the  Indians  on  foot  the  women 
do  their  full  part  according  to  their  strength. 

The  ruling  opinion  in  Mexican  society  would  prohibit  absolutely  any 
respectable  female  from  engaging  in  any  professional  or  personal  occu- 
pation, including  Government  officials  and  clerks,  teachers,  artists^ 
chemists,  hotel  and  boarding-house  keepers,  journalists,  laundresses^ 
musicians,  inventors,  bankers,  brokers,  lecturers,  and  public  speakers. 
No  female  name  appears  on  the  official  lists  of  the  Government  in  any 
capacity  whatever,  and  any  occupation  or  pi'ofession  that  would  draw  a 
■woman  from  the  seclusion  of  her  domestic  circle  would  entail  upon  her 
loss  of  caste  and  the  general  reprobation  of  her  sex.  An  educated  lady 
may  devote  herself  to  teaching  the  poor  from  motives  of  religous  zeal,  or 
exhibit  her  musical  talents  in  public  at  a  charity  concert,  but  profes- 
sionally never.  Pressed  by  ixwerty  a  Mexican  lady  will  work  in  lace, 
embroidery,  or  other  artistic  labor  and  sell  her  productions  privately^ 
or  even  give  private  lessons  in  music,  &c.,  but  all  the  female  profes- 
sional teachers,  artists,  boarding-house  keepers,  &c.,  are  foreigners,  or 
nearly  all,  for  of  late  years  foreign  travel,  foreign  education,  and  con- 
tact with  foreigners  at  home,  combined  with  the  liberalizing  tendency 
of  the  reform  laws,  have  somewhat  modified  the  strictness  of  Mexican 
society  in  this  regard. 

The  laundry  business  is  altogether  in  the  hands  of  the  Indian  women, 
who  wash  the  clothes  on  the  traditional  flat  rough-grained  stone  used 
in  the  days  of  the  Montezumas.  There  was  an  American  steam  laundry 
here  a  year  ago  wiiicli  failed  for  lack  of  encouragement,  and  the  China- 
man has  not  yet  made  his  appearance. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO.  121 

The  Indian  women  and  children  work  in  the  fiehls  with  the  men,  like 
the  European  peasantry,  sharing;  all  the  labors  of  the  farm. 

Mining"  is  exclusively  carried  on  by  male  labor.  I  never  saw  females 
engaged  about  the  mines  or  the'Smeltiu<^  and  separating  works  in  any 
other  way  than  in  ])reparing  and  carrying  food  to  the  workmen. 

Among  the  u])])er  classes,  as  before  stated,  the  dominant  social  opin- 
ion withdraws  women,  not  only  from  all  professions  and  occupations, 
but  from  many  of  tlie  amusements  and  social  ceremonies  where  the  male 
sex  predominate.  Among  the  Indians  and  lower  classes  the  women 
take  their  i)art  promiscuously  in  all  the  labors,  occujjatious,  interests, 
and  amusements  incident  to  their  condition  in  life.  They  are  neither 
oppressed  nor  sectluded,  but  live  on  terms  of  natural  equality  and  com- 
panionship with  their  husbands,  sharing  their  labors  and  the  profits  by 
rules  of  natural  justice. 

FEMALE  WAGES  AND  HOURS  OF  LABOR. 

In  the  same  employments  the  average  wages  of  women  are  about  one- 
third  less  than  of  men  : 

Cent*. 

Seamstresses  are  paid per  day . .       37 

Weavers  at  baud  looms do 50 

Wasberwomeu do 37 

Irouers do 50 

Cigar-makers  may  earn  from  50  cents  to  $1  per  day,  according  to  their 
industry  and  skill  in  manipulation,  as  they  work  by  the  job,  receiving 
for  cigarettes  a  tlaco  {h^  cents  per  package)  of  twenty,  or  7^  cents  per 
hundred. 

The  usual  hours  of  labor  are  from  6  in  the  morning  until  6  at  night, 
with  intervals  of  an  hour  each  for  breakfast  and  dinner. 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL   CONDITION. 

The  moral  and  physical  condition  of  female  employes  is  apparently 
good.  They  are  quiet  and  decent  in  their  behavior  and  generally  look 
healthy.  There  are  ijublic  free  schools  supported  by  the  Government 
for  the  benefit  of  females  as  well  as  males  of  the  working  classes.  They 
receive  here  the  elements  of  literary  and  technical  education,  and  if 
they  develop  any  especial  talents  may  be  admitted  to  the  higher  schools 
and  colleges.  There  are  also  mutual  aid  societies  as  among  the  men,  as 
well  as  some  private  charities,  whose  object  is  to  assist  and  improve  the 
social  condition  of  females  of  the  working  classes.  Public  attention  in 
Mexico  is  much  more  occupied  with  this  subject  than  formerly,  but  the 
movement  is  too  recent  to  have  produced  as  yet  any  decided  or  appre- 
ciable results. 

PAST   AND   PRESENT  WAGES. 

Generally  there  has  been  no  change  whatever.  In  this  city  the  prices 
of  the  necessaries  of  life  have  gone  up  during  the  past  two  or  three 
years,  but  are  now  resuming  their  former  status.  As  the  employment 
of  women  in  the  labor  of  the  country  is  of  ancient  date,  I  have  not,  in 
the  last  five  years,  observed  that  it  has  any  especial  influence  on  wages 
or  on  the  general  condition  of  labor. 

FEMALE   EDUCATION. 

The  state  of  education  among  the  working  classes  generally  is  very 
low,  although  since  the  establishment  of  free  schools  it  is  improving, 
especially  in  the  towns  and  cities,  as  also  among  the  employes  of  some 


in 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 


of  the  larger  factories.  In  a  country  like  Mexico,  where  the  lower 
classes  of  the  population  are  sunk  in  ignorance  and  poverty,  where  their 
ordinary  mode  of  living  is  on  the  lowest  scale,  with  its  attendant  vices 
and  miseries,  where  low  wages  and  lack  of  regular  employment  would 
seem  to  forbid  the  hope  of  improvement,  all  regular  and  reasonably  re- 
munerative labor  must  be  regarded  as  beneficent  in  its  effects,  both  on 
the  individual  and  the  family,  educating,  civilizing,  and  improving,  both 
morally  and  physically ;  and  in  the  cities  as  in  the  country  I  have  ob- 
served that  the  employes  and  dependents  of  the  manufacturing,  mining, 
and  agricultural  establishments,  where  there  was  regular  and  organized 
labor,  were  decidedly  superior  in  appearance,  intelligence,  and  civilized 
appliances  to  the  ordinary  population. 

DAVID  H.  STROTHBR, 

Consul-  General. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Mexico,  February  15, 1885. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 


Occnpations. 


BUILDING  TEADE8. 


Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 
Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Slaters  


Kooters 

Tenders 

Plumbers per  day.. 

Assistants do 

Carpenters do 

Gas-fitters do 

OTHEU  TKADE3. 

Bakers : 

Chief  bakers do 

Attendants do 

Blacksmiths do 

Stii  U  ers do 

Book-binders do 

Brick-uiakors  (peons) do 

Brewers  (peons)t do 

Butchers : 

Those  who  kill  the  cattle do 

Those  wlio  deliver  or  sell do.... 

Brassibumlers: 

Head  workmen do 

Assistants  and  pilers do 


Cabiiiet-mak('i 


.do  .. 


(*) 


$1  00 

50 

75 

1  00 


3  00 
1  00 
1  50 
62J 
75 
50 
50 

3  00 
1  25 


75 

1  00 

50 

50 


Confectioners do . 

Ciyiar-makers  (by  the  100)  do . 

Coopers do 1 

Cutlers do  .. 

Distillers  (peons) do  — 

Drivers  : 

Draymen  and  teamsters do  — 

Cab  and  carriage r do 

Street  railways : 

Drivers do.... 

Conductors do 

*  In  Mexico  all  these  occupations  are  under  one  heading  ;  the  mason  builds  the  walls,  roofs,  floors, 
stairways,  of  the  same  material,  with  his  assistant  to  cnrry  miiteiial,  stones,  bricks,  and  mortar;  this 
carrier  is  a  peon  or  half-grown  boy  generally.     The  mason  works  by  the  day.  earning  from  75  cents  to 
$1  per  day.    Tlie  assistant  earns  from  37^  to  50  cents  per  day.    The  boy  from  18J  to  25  cents. 
Driver  who  delivers  the  beer  in  the  city,  $60  per  month. 


1  00 
75 

1  00 
75 

1  00 
50 

50 
25 

75 
1  00 


(*) 


$1  50 

62  J 

1  00 

1  50 


5  00 

1  25 

2  00 
75 

1  25 
75 
75 

3  50 

1  50 

2  00 
75 

3  00 
1  00 
1  25 
1  00 
3  00 

62i 

50 


Average. 


(*) 


$1  00 

50 

75 

1  00 


3  00 
1  00 
1  50 
G2i 
75 
50 
50 


1  25 
75 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 
Wages  paid  in  the  city  of  Mexico — Contiuued. 


123 


Occupationa. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Otheu  tkades — Continued. 

Dyers : 

Skilled  workmen i do... 

Assistants  (peons) do  — 

Knpravtrs do... 

Furriers do... 

Gaideiiers : 

Head do... 

Peons do... 

Hatters  (woik  by  piece) do... 

Horsi  shoers,  I'arrieis,  and  nail-makers do 

Jewelers : 

Chief  workmen do 

Gold  and  silver  smiths do 

Laborers,  porters,  ifcc do 

Litliograpbers do 

Milhvrij;bts do 

Potters   do 

Printers do 

Teachers,  public  schools per  month.. 

Saddle  and  harness  makers per  day.. 

Sail-makers 

Stevedores 

'Tanners  and  I'urriers per  day.. 

Tailors  do 

Telegrajjh  operators per  month.. 

Tinsmiths per -day.. 

Weavers: 

Outside  of  mills  (reboaa  and  scrape  weavers) do 

It)  factories do  — 

Lace do 

Gilders do 

Gold-leaf  beaters  (work  by  the  piece) do  .. 

6hoem:ikers do 

Painters,  hoase  and  sign do 


$1  50 

r>o 

2  M 
1  50 

1  00 
50 
75 
75 


$2  00 


3  00 
2  00 


1  50 


75 
41J 
1  00 

(*) 

75 

1  00 

30  00 

50 
(t) 
C) 
1  50 

75 


1  50 
1  00 

3  00 
1  00 
50 
3  CO 
(*) 
1  00 
1  50 
40  00 

1  00 
(t) 
C) 

2  00 
1  00 


75 

75 
75 
75 
75 
50 
75 
75 


1  00 


1  00 

75 

1  25 


$1  50 

50 

2  50 

1  50 


1 

00 

75 

75 

1 

00 

(*) 

75 

1 

00 

C2i 

(t) 

C) 
1  50 
75 
,      60 

75 

75 


1  00 
87i 


*No  separate  business;  work  done  by  machinists, 
t  This  business  not  carried  on  here. 
J  None  in  Mexico  City  or  districts. 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixtg  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  and  near  the  city  of  Mexico 

{Mexicans}. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$18  00 

12  00 

12  00 

9  00 

3  00 

$35  00 

25  00 

25  00 

18  00 

6  00 

$25  00 

18  00 

18  00 

Ciitton  mill      

12  00 

4  50 

III. 


Foundries,  machine-shops, 


AND   iron  works. 


ITages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  andiron  worksin  the  city  of 
Mexico  {Mexican  mechanics). 


Occupations. 


Brass  foundry 
Iron  foundry. 
Machinists  ... 
Brass  turners 
Iron  turners.. 
Bhicksniiths.. 
Laborers 


Lowest. 

$9  00 

6  00 

12  00 

12  00 

9  00 

0  00 

4  50 

Highest. 


$18  00 
15  UO 
24  00 
24  00 
18  00 
18  00 
9  00 


Average. 


$15  00 
12  00 
18  00 
18  00 
15  00 
12  00 
6  00 


124 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 


IV.  Glass  workers. 

Wages  paid  per  toeek  to  glass-workers  in  the  cities  of  Pueblo,  Apizaco,  and  Apam  {Mexicans). 


XDccnpations. 


Average. 


Pane-glaas  ■workmen  . . . 

Pressed-ware  workmen 

Coinmou  blowers 

Laborers : 

Men , 

Boys 


$17  50  i 
6  00  1 
6  00  : 

$37  50 
24  00 

18  00  1 

$25  00 
18  00 
12  00 

4  50  '• 
1  50  1 

9  00  1 

4  50  i 

6  00 
3  00 

V,  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  pe^-  week  of  sixty  hours  in  and  in  connection  ivith  mines  in  the  States  of  Mexico, 
Hidalgo,  Guanahuato,  and  Zacatecas. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest.  I  Highest.  Average. 


Director 

Miner  bosses 

Undergronnd  miners 

Ontsirte  miners 

Underground  laborers 

Outside  laborers 

Ptimpmen  

Engine-drivers 

Firemen 

Machinists 

Blacksmiths 

Carpenters 

Teamsters 

Assayers 

Clerks  and  like  employes 


$25  00 

$100  00 

$50  00 

15  00 

25  00 

18  00 

6  00 

12  00 

9  00 

4  50 

9  00 

C  00 

3  25 

3  75 

3  00 

1  871 

3  00 

2  25 

12  00 

18  00 

15  00 

15  00 

25  00 

20  00 

6  00 

15  00 

9  00 

18  00 

35  00 

25  00 

6  00 

18  00 

12  00 

6  00 

18  00 

12  00 

3  00 

6  00 

4  50 

18  00 

35  00 

25  00 

12  00 

25  00 

18  00 

YI.  Eailw^at  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  aboitt  stations,  as  trell  as  those  e?i- 
gagcd  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  ijc.)  on  Central  and  Xational 
Builroad. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Station  masters 

$25  00 

$45  00 

$35  00 
35  00 

Engine-drivers 

Firemen 



12  50 

Conductors i 

35  OO 

Brakesmen ! 

10  00 

Baggage-masters ! 

15  00 

Linemen t 

12  00 

Laborers  (Mexican) - 1 

3  00 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  jyaid         tceek  of  sixty  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in 

Mexico. 


Occapations. 


Book-keepers '. i      $20  00 


Head  clerks  (dry  goods) 
Under  clerks  (dry  goods)  . 
Head  clerks  (groceries)  ... 
Under  clerks  (groceries)  . 
Head  clerks  (hardwares) . . 
Under  clerks  (hardwares) . 
Tailors. 


Shoemakers. 
Hat  makers. . 


Dressmakers  (females) - 

Milliners  (females) 

Sewing- women 

Female  clerks 

Shop-women 


18  00 

12  00 

12  00 

6  00 

18  00 

12  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

4  50 

6  00 

3  00 

6  00 

3  OO 


$40  00 
25  00 
18  00 
18  00 
12  00 
25  00 
18  00 
12  00 
18  00 
12  00 

9  00 
V2  00 

6  00 
12  00 

6  00 


$25  00 

20  00 

15  00 

15  00 

9  00 

20  00 

15  00 

9  00 

12  00 

0  00 

6  00 

9  00 

4  50 

0  00 

4  5» 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO. 


125 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Mexico  City. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Cooks : 

iVench  or  Italian i      $45  00 

Mexican |        10  00 

Servants :  ' 

Kitchen  duties 

Chamber  duties 

"Waiters : 

Hotel 

Restaurant , 

Household , 

Coachmen 

Footmen 


Highest   Average. 


3  50 
3  50 

10  00 
5  00 
3  50 

10  00 
5  00 


$100  00 
25  00 

10  00 
12  00 

20  00 
15  00 
12  00 
30  00 
15  00 


$50  00 
15  00 

5  00 

6  00 

15  00 
12  00 
6  00 
15  00 
10  00 


xr.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  Mexico. 


Occapations. 


Lowest. 


Ariniiiii-itiatorsof  sugar  estates  and  other  agricultural j  $100  00 

Field  bosses I  25  00 

Assistants 12  00 

Field  hands:  I 

Plo\vmen* i  7  50 

Reapers* I  4  50 


Average. 


$150  00 
45  00 
15  00 

10  00 
8  00 


*  "With  rations. 

Xll.  Corporation  employIjs. 

n ages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  dty  of  Mexico. 


Occupations. 


Lowest    Highest.  |  Average. 


Secretary  of  the  municipality i      $62  5i) 

First  oiBcer 

Second  officer 

Treasurer  ($2,000  per  year) 

Clerks 

Doorkeepers,  passes,  &c 

Chief  of  the  police  department 

Captains  of  the  police  department  

Lieutenants  of  the  police  department 

Policemen 


25  00 
15  00 
38  40 
15  00 
6  00 


$18  00 


$62  50 
25  00 
15  00 
38  00 
15  00 
9  00 
60  00 
37  50 
20  DO 
15  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  officers,  exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers,  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 


Occupations. 


President  of  the  Republic i. 

Ministers  or  members  of  the  cabinet. 

First  officers  of  each  of  the  departments,  such  as  of  finances,  war,  justice,  interior,  and 

public  works  

Second  oflicem 

Treasurer- jreneral  of  the  nation 

Assistant  Ireasarer  

Chief  officers  of  the  different  sections  of  these  departments 

Clerks  of  tlie  same ; 

Porters,  pa;ies,  (fcc        

Chief  of  the  custom-bouses  of  different  ports,  from  $250  to  $500  per  month,  averaging  about 

Under  clerks 

Coast  guards 


Average 
wages. 


$36,  000 
8,000 

4,000 

2,500 

4,000 

2,500 

1,800 

800 

360 

3,600 

800 

1,200 


126  LABOK  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO. 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 


Wages  paid  by  the  week  of  sixty  hours  to  the  trades  avd  Jalorers  in  Government  employ  at 

the  citidal,  city  of  Mexico. 


Occupations. 


Carpenters 

Blacksniiths 

Wheel  wiij;ht8 

Saddlers  

Shoemakers 

Brass  t'Dunders 

Iron  founders 

Mettle  turners 

Macbinists  and  gun-makers 

Laboi'ers 

Engineers 

Engine-drivers 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average, 


$6  00 
&  00 
6  00 

4  50 
6  00 
9  00 
6  00 
32  00 
Iti  0(1 
4  50 
25  00 
15  00 


$18  00 
iS  00 
18  GO 
12  00 
12  00 
18  00 
15  00 

24  00 
35  00 

9  00 
50  00 

25  00 


.$12  00 

12  00 

12  00 

9  00 

9  00 

15  00 

12  00 

18  00 

25  00 

6  00 

35  00 

18  00 


XV.  Printers  and  PRiNTma  ofpices. 

statement  showing  the  uiages  paid  per  iveeJc  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen^ 
proof-readers,  ^c.)  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 


Occupations. 


Average. 


Compositors  . 
Pressmen  . ... 
Proof-readers 


$16  60 
12  00 
20  00 


$12  00 

9  00 

15  00 


Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  eynployds  of  the  Federal  Govei-nment  of  Mexico, 

1884. 


Occupations. 


EXECUTIVE  DEPAE.TMENT. 
President  of  the  Republic 

OFFICE  OF  THE  PEIVATE  SECKETART. 


$30,  000  00 


Secretary . 
Clerk 


STAFF  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Adjutant,  lieutenant- colonel  of  in- 
fantry  

Ad, j  utant,  colonel  of  cavalry ._. . . 

Adjutant,  lieutenant -colonel  of  in- 
fantry   

Adjutant,  lieutenant-colonel  of  cavalry . 

Service. 

Doorkeeper  of  the  President's  house.. 
Assistant  doorkeeper  of  the  President's 

house  

Messenger 


STATE  DEPARTMENT. 


Secretary  of  State.. 
Assistant  secretary 


DEPARTMENT  OF  POLITICS. 


Section  of  America. 


Chief  of  section . 
First  assistant. .. 
Second  a.ssistant. 

First  clerk 

Second  clerk 

Third  clerk 


3,  000  00 
800  00 


, 466  00 
, 714  40 


652  40 

807  20 


800  00 
370  00 


000  00 
500  00 


3,  000  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  500  00 

800  00 

600  00 

600  00 


Occupations. 


Section  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa, 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

First  clerk 

Second  clerk 

DEPARTMENT  OF  COMifERCE. 

Chief  of  department 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

T h i id  assistant 

Kirst  clerk 

Second  clerk 

Third  clerk 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SEALS. 

Chief  of  department 

General  clerk  (assistant) 

Penman  (cal6grafo) 

First  clerk 

Second  clerk 

English  tran-^lator 

German  translator 

ARCHIVES  AND  LIBRARIES. 

Keeper  of  the  archives 

Fit  St  clerk 

Assistant  clerk 

Service. 

Doorkeeper 

First  messenger 

Second  messenger.- 

Third  messenger 


Salary. 


$3 

000 

00 

2 

000 

00 

1 

500 

00 

800 

00 

600 

00 

3 

000 

00 

2 

000 

00 

1 

500 

00 

1 

200 

00 

800 

on 

600 

00 

600 

00 

3 

000 

00 

1 

500 

00 

1 

000 

00 

800 

00 

600 

00 

1 

500 

00 

700 

00 

1 

500 

00 

600 

00 

500 

00 

600 

00 

300 

00 

240 

00 

220  00 

LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO.  127 

Salaries  of  the  dvil  and  military  officers  and  employes  of  Mexico— Contmned.. 


Occupations. 


GENERAL  ARCHIVES  OF  THE  NATION. 

Chief  of  department 

Assistant 

Cl.ik 

I'aleoarrapher 

Clerk,  a.s.sistant  of  above 

Dooikeiper 

Orderly 

TREASURY  DEPARTMENT. 

secrktary's  office. 

Secretary  of  the  Trea.snry 

Pi  i vate  Bocretary  of  above 

Clerk 


CHIEF  clerk's  office. 


First  clerk  (chief). 

Second  clerk 

A  ssistaut 

Clerk 


Section  1. — Customs. 


Chief  of  section 

First  assist:) ut  

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Foiirt  h  assistant 

Clerk  

Siij)ernumerary 

Keeper  of  the  archives  (general  clerk) 


Section  2.— Nationalized  estates. 


Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Fourth  assistant 

Clerk 

Supernumerary 

General  clerk,  keeper  of  the  archives 


Section  3. — Taxes. 


Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Clerk 

General  clerk,  keeper  of  the  archives. 

Section  4. — Accounts  of  the  Treasury. 


Chief  of  section 

Paymaster 

Bookkeeper        

Assistant  book-keeper 

Clerk  in  charge  of  the  archives. 
Clerk 


Salary. 


Section  .'5. — Payment  of  the  foreign  serv- 
ice. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assist.'int 

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

Supernumerary  

General  clerk, "keeper  of  the  archives. 

Section  6. — Public  credit. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

Book-ke(^por 

General  clerk ,  keeper  of  the  arohlvM . 


$2,000  00 

1,  200  00 

COO  00 

1,  200  00 

GOO  00 

300  00 

60  00 


8,  000  00 

2,400  00 

600  00 


4,  !)00  00 

3,  .'iOO  00 

1,  800  00 

COO  00 


3,  500  00 
2,  ."iOO  00 
2,000  00 
1,800  00 
1,500  00 
600  00 
300  00 
1,  200  00 


3,  000  00 
2,  500  00 
2,  0(10  00 
1,  800  00 
1,  500  00 
000  00 
300  00 
1,  200  00 


3,  000  00 
2,  51)0  00 
2,000  00 
1,  800  00 
600  00 
1,  200  00 


3,000  00 
2,  400  00 
1,  5U0  00 
1,200  00 
1,200  00 
600  00 


3,000  00 
2,500  00 
1,200  00 
COO  00 
?,00  00 
1,200  00 


3,  000  00 

2,  500  00 

2,  000  00 

Olio  00 

1,  500  00 

1, 200  00 


Occapattons. 


Section  7. — Land  tax  and  statistics  of 
the  department. 

Chief  of  section 

Fiist  assistant 

Second  assistiint 

Tliiid  assistant 

Fourth  assistant 

Clerk 

Section  8. — Archives. 

Keeper  of  the  archives 

Assistant 

Clerk 

DKPABTMENT  OF  COMril.ATIOX  OF  LAWS 
AND  OF  THE   LIBRARY. 


Chief  of  department. 


Sccretai-y 

Clerk  of  the  libraiian. 

Assistant  of  above 

Clerk 


Salary. 


OFFICE  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  ATTORNEY. 


Attorney 
Clerk.... 


DEPARTMENT  OF  TECHNICAL  CONSULTA- 
TION. 


Consulting  attorney . 

Civil  engineer 

Clerk 


Doorkeeper. 
Messenger. - 

Janitor 

Orderly 


Service. 


GENERAL  TREASURY. 


Treasurer 

General  clerk. 
Clerk 


Auditor's  o_ffice. 

Auditor    

First  book-keeper 

Second  book-keeper 

Clerk 


Treasury. 
Treasurer 

Assistant  treasurer  

Collector  and  executor.. 
Clerk 


Section  1. — Collection  of  taxes. 


Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Fiiurth  assist.mt 

Book-keeper 

Assistant  bookkeeper. 
Clerk 


Section  2.— Pay  department. 


Chief  of  section 

First  assistant     

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant. 

Fourth  a-ssistaut 

Book  keeper 

Assistant  book-keeper. 
Clerk 


$3,  000  OO 

2,  500 

0(« 

2,000 

00 

1,800 

00 

1,  .500 

00 

600 

OO 

2,400  00 

1,  200 

00 

600 

00 

3,  000  00 
2,  100  00 
1,  800  00 
1,800  OO 
GOO  00 


3,  000  00 
600  00 


3, 000  oa 

3,  000  00 

600  00 

720  00 

300  00 

240  00 

60  00 

6,  000  Oa 

800  00 

600  00 

5,  000  00 

4,  000  OO 

2,  500  00 

600  00 

4,  000  00 

2,  500  00 

900  00 

600  00 

3, 000  00 

2, 500  00 

1,  500  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  OHO  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  200  00 

600  OO 

3,  000  00 

2,  500  00 

1,  500  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  000  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  200  OO 

600  00 

128  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  employes  of  Mexico— Corxtmued. 


Occupations. 


Section  for  revision  of  the  department 
accounts. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Fourth  assistant 

Clerk 

Section  of  public  credit. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assi  stant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Fourth  assistant 

Book-keeper ■ 

Assistant  book-keeper 

Clerk ■ 

Section  for  liquidation  of  the  public  debt. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

General  messenger 

Archives. 

Keeper  of  thei  archives 

Assistan 

Clerk 

Service. 

Doorkeeper 

Messenger 

Orderly 

Liquidation  section. 

Chief  of  section 

Revisinjr  auditor 

Assistant 

Clerk 

Book-keeper 

Assistant  book-keeper 

Doorkeeper 

Messenger 

REVENUE  STAMP  DEPARTMENT. 

General  office. 

Chief  of  department 

First  corresponding  clerk 

Second  coiTespondiug  clerk 

Clerk 

Keeper  of  the  archives 

Inspector v^ 

Auditor's  office. 

Auditor 

Book-keeper 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Treasurer 

Clerk 

Section  of  revision. 

Chief  of  department 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Fourth  assistant 

Clerk 


Salary. 


$3,  000  00 
2,  500  00 
1,  500  00 
1,  200  00 
1,  000  00 
600  00 


3,  000  00 
2,500  00 
1,  500  00 
1,  2U0  00 

1,  000  00 

2,  000  00 
1,  200  00 

600  00 


3,  000  00 

2,  500  00 

1,  500  00 

600  00 

300  00 


2,  000  00 
800  00 
600  00 


600  00 

300  00 

60  00 


3,  000  00 

2, 400  00 

1,000  00 

600  00 

1,  500  00 

900  00 

480  00 

300  00 


4,  000  00 

1,  500  (10 

1,  200  00 

600  00 

1,  000  00 

2,  000  00 


3,  000  00 
2,  000  00 
1,  200  00 
1,  000  00 
1,200  00 
600  00 


3 

800 

00 

2 

000 

00 

1 

800 

00 

1 

500 

00 

1 

200 

00 

600 

00 

Occupations. 


Store-house  for  stamps. 

Guard  of  store-house 

Assistant  guard  of  store-house 

Clerk 

First  messenger 

Second  messenger 

Service. 

Collector  and  counter  of  money 

Messenger 

Watchman 

Doorkeeper  

Orderly 

POSTAGE  STAMP  DEPARTMENT. 

Director's  office. 

Director  

Sub-director 

Corresponding  clerk 

Book-keeper 

Assistant  book-keeper 

Clerk 


Storehouse  for  stamps. 


Guard  of  store-house  »-. 

Assistant  guard  of  store-house 

Cutter,  folder,  and  perforator  stamps. 
Messenger 


Engraving  office. 


First  class  engineer. . . . 
Second  class  engineer  . 
Third  class  engineer  - 
Fourth  class  engineer  . 


Machinery  department. 


Mechanical  engineer 

Black  and  locksmith 

Carpenter 

Fireman  for  steam  engine . 


Printing  department. 


Chief  pressman 

Second  pressman 

Third  pressman 

Lithograplier 

Assistant  lithographer. 


Stamp-gumming  department. 

Chief  stamp-gummer 

Assistant  stamp-gummer 


Service. 


Doorkeeper. 
Messenger.. 
Watchman  . 


NATIONAL  LOTTERY. 

Director 

Secretary  of  the  directive  junta,  also 

comptroller .' 

Clerk  of  tlie  directive  junta 

First  auditor  

Second  auditor,  also  book-keeper 

Chief  clerk  of  revision  and  accounts . . . 

Clerk  of  revision  and  remittances 

Corresponding  clerk 

Treasurer 

Chief  clerk  of  treasurer 

Clerk  who  exauiires  the  tickets 

Small  boy  who  draws  the  numbers 

Doorkeeper 

Messenger 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO.  129 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  emplofih  of  Mexico — Continued. 


Occupations. 


CHIKF    DIP.KCTOUY  OV  THE     CUSTOMS  OF 
THE    FKDEHAL   DISTKICT. 


Director 

FirMt  assistant,  chief  of  the  section  of 

c«ir(-s|i(>n(ience 

Second  assistaul 

Clerk  


Auditor'ii  office. 


Ainlitor 

IJook-keoTJer  

Clerk  of  bookkeeper 

Clerk 

Cbiff  of  revisions  in  charge  of  statis- 
tics  

Cliief  of  llio  comparing  section 

Clerk  of  the  comparing  section 

Supernumerary 

Chief  clerk  in  diarjre  of  revision  and 
cop.\  ing  of  miscellaneous  documents 

Keei)crof  the  archives .. 

Chief  of  the  section  for  selling  foreign 
and  national  goods 


Treasury. 


Treasurer 

Money-counter,  responsible  formissing 

or  counterfeit  money 

Clerk 


Inspection  department. 


Examiner 

Assistant  examiner. 
Apothecary 


Store-houses  and  warden  slips. 


Chief  store-house  guard 

Clerk  for  stoi  e-houscs  guard 

Servant  foi'  store-liouse  guard  ... 

Storc-liouse  f:uard  at  St.  Jerome 

Servant  for  store-house  guard  at  St. 

Jerome 

Warden  of  entrances 

Warden  of  exits 

Clerk  for  warden  of  exits 

Head  porter 


Buena  Vista  section. 

Treasurer,  responsible  for  missing  or 

counterfeit 

Warden  of  entrances  and  exits , 

Clerk 


General  service. 

Head  doorkee])er  of  the  custom  house. 
Assistant  do(irkeej)er  of    the  custom 

house  

Janitor 

Corps  of  customs  guards. 


Commander 

Adjulant-comniander 

Corporal,  mounted  anil  armed. 
I'rivate,  mounted  and  armed... 

Private,  on  foot  and  armed 

Boatman 


City  (jatcs. 


Collector  of  customs. 

Clerk 

As.-istant  clerk 

Gatcman 


92  A— 2  LAB- 


Salary. 


$4,  000  00 

1,  ,'iOO  00 

1,000  00 

600  00 


3,  .100  00 
1,500  00 

1,  000  00 
600  00 

2,  000  00 
2,0(10  00 
1,000  00 

300  00 

1,  200  00 
800  00 

1,  200  00 


1,  800  00 
600  00 


3,  000  00 
2,  000  00 
2,  500  00 


1,  .500  00 
600  00 
180  00 

1,000  00 

IKO  00 

1,200  00 

1,  2U0  00 

600  00 

700  00 


1,000  00 

1,000  00 

600  00 


300  00 
300  00 


2,  500  00  i 

2,  000  00 

1,200  00 

900  00 

600  00 

180  00 


2,  000  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 

180  00 


Occupations. 


Salary. 


DIKECTOUY  OF  THE  TAXEB  OF  THE  FKD- 
EUAL  IJISTKICT. 


Directory. 


$4,000  OO 


Director 

I  Corresponding  clerk 1,200  OO 

Clerk  of  the  archives 1 ,  000  00 

Assistant  clerk 600  00 


Auditor's  office. 


Auditor 

First  revising  clerk... 
Second  revising  clerk 

Book-keeper 

Assistant  clerk , 


Section  of  census  and  settlements. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant  

Third  assistiiut 

Inspector 


Collectors'  offices  in  the  capital. 


Collector  of  taxes 
Clerk 


Treasury. 

Treasurer   responsible  for  missing  or 

counterfeit  money 

Doorkeeper,  also  money-counter 

Supernumerary 


Service. 


Messenger. 
Orderly 


DEPAKTMENT  OF  WAR  AND  MA- 
RINE. 


SECRETARY  6  OFFICE. 


Secretary  of  war  and  marine 

Chief  clerk    

First  assistant,  colonel  of  cavalry 

Second  assistant,  colonel  of  cavalry 

Tliird  assistant,  colonel  of  infantry 

Fourth  assistant  keeper  of  the  archives, 

lieutenant-colonel  of  cavalry 

Fifth  assistatit  librarian,  lieutenant-col- 
onel of  infantry 

First  eapt-aiu  of  cavalry • 

First  captain  of  infantry 

Second  raptaiu  of  eavairy ! 

Second  captain  of  infantry | 

Lieuten^int  of  cavaliy ' 

Lienteiiaiit  of  infantry i 

Finsitcn  of  cavali .^• 

Sublieutenant  of  infantry 

Assessor  of  tlie  army  

First  captain  of  cavalry,  clerk  of  the 
army 


3,  000  00 
1,300  00 
1, 100  00 
1,  200  00- 
600  0(V 


2,  200  OO 
1, 500  00 
1,200  00 
1,  000  00 
300  00 


2,  000  00 
600  00 


1,  400  00 
500  00 
300  00 


300  00 
60  00 


8 

000  00 

4 

500  00 

2,714  40 

2 

714  40 

2 

466  00 

1 

807  20 

1 

652  40 

1 

140  00 

960  00 

060  00 

840  00 

780  00 

720  00 

720  00 

600  00 

3 

000  00 

Service. 


Doorkeeper. 

.Janitor 

Ord.trlv 


STAIT  OF  THE  ARMY. 


600  00 

300  00 

60  00 


Active  general  of  division 6,000  00 

A etive  general  of  brigade i  4, . 000  00 

Kisrve  general  of  division 4,000  00 

Reserve  general  of  brigade |  3,  000  00 


130  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  employes  of  Mexico — Continued. 


Occupations. 


MILITAUy  ASSESSORS. 

Military  assessor 

SUPREME   COUUT  OF  MILITAUY  .TUSTICE. 

President  of  the  first  hall,  jieneral  of  di 
vision 

Second  magistrate,  general  of  brigade 

Third  magistrate,  by  courtesy  general 
of  brigade 

Secretary,  by  com  tesy  colonel  of  cav- 
alry, who  also  serves  as  secretary  dur- 
ing the  meeting  of  both  halls  (tribu- 
nal pleno) 

First  clerk,  a  first  adjutant 

Second  clerk,  a  second  captain  of  cav- 
alry  

First  assistant  clerjs,  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry   

Second  assistant  clerk,  sublieutenant  of, 
infantry 

Ordeily,  second  sergeant  of  c<avah-y 1 

President  of  the  secoud  hall,  general  of 
division ! 

Second  magistrate,  general  of  brigade  j 

Third  magistrate,  by  courtesy  general 
of  brigade 

Secretary,  by  courtesy,  Uou  ten  ant-colo- 
nel of  cavalry 

First  clerk,  a  first  adjutant 

Second  clerk,  a  second  captain  of  cav- 
alry  

First  assistant  clerk,  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry  I 

Second' assistant  clerk,  sublieutenant  of 
infantiy I 

Orderly,  second  sergeant  of  cavalry | 

Supernumeraiy  magistrate,  general  ofi 
brigade 

Supernumerary  magistrate,  by  courtesy; 
general  of  brigade t 

Professional  defender,  by  courtesy  col-l 
onel  of  infantry .". . .   .1 

Attorney,  by  courtesy  colonel  of  in- 
fantry'   

Clerk  of  proceedings*,  by  courtesy  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  cavalry 


$2,  714  00 


,  500  00 


,714 
,140 


960 
720 


660 

270 


4,  500  90 


MILITARY  COURTS  OF  MANDATE. 

Colonel  of  cavalrj- , 

Colonel  of  infantry 

Secretary,  sublieutenant  of  infantry. . . 
Secretary,  first  sergeant  of  cavalry'. . . 
Orderly,  second  sergeant  of  cavalry  . .. 

SPECIAL  STAFF  COUPS. 

Commander  of  the  corps 

Colonel 

Lieutenant-colonel 

Major 

First  captain 

Second  ca])tain 

Major  of  cavalry  attached 

Lieutenant 


720 

660 
270 

500 

500 

466 

466 

807 


DEPARTMENT  OF  ENGINEERS. 

General  or  colonel  of  the  staU' 

First  caiitain,  chief  of  first  section. 
Second  captain,  chief  of  tiie  staff.. 
Sublieutenant,  clerk 


Staff. 

Colonel  of  the  stafi" 

Lieutenant-colonel  of  the  staff. 

Major  of  the  staff 

First  captain  of  the  statl' 

Secoud  captain  of  tiie  staS' 

Lieutenant  of  the  sta tt' 

Guard 


,140 
000 

720 


826 
807 
560 
140 
SCO 
780 
600 
Pay 


Occupations. 


Military  college.  i 

Director,  general  or  colonel  of  the  staff 
of  artillery  oi'  engineers 

Subdircctor,  colonel  or  lieutenant-colo- 
nel of  the  stafi  of  artillery  or  engi-j 
neers,  major I 

Clerk  of  the  directory j 

Adjutant,  lieutenant  of  the  staff  of  ar 
tillery  or  engineers 

Surgeon  

Clerk  of  the  subdirectory 

Professor  of  surveying  and  astronomy. 

Professor  of  the  art  and  history  of  war 
(director) 

Professor  of  staff  duty  (subdirector) . . . 

Professor  of  architecture 

Professor  of  analytical  machinery 

Professor  of  applied  machinery 

Professor  of  physics 

Proft-ssor  of  chemistry 

Professor  of  mathematics 

Professor  of  stereometry,  roads,  canals, 
and  poi t  improvements 

Professor  of  general  topography 

Professor  of  military  topography,  theo- 
retical and  practical,  also  of  element- 
ary descriptive  geometry 

Professorof  elementary  natural  history. 

Professor  of  permanent  fortiflcationand 
scientific  gunnery 

Professor  of  field  fortification  and  prac- 
tical gunnery 

Professor  of  military  jurisprudence, 
laws  of  war,  and  elementary  logic  . 

Professor  of  first  course  of  pilotry  and 
cosniogj  aphy .* 

Professorof  second  courseof  pilotry  and 
naval  construction '. 

Professor  of  nautical  nomenclature, 
terms,  and  maneuvers,  general  theo- 
ries of  winds,  currents,  and  move- 
ments of  ships 

Professor  of  machinery  applied  to  navi- 
gation  

Professor  of  naval  artillery,  torpedoes, 
and  naval  law 

Professor  of  Spanish 

Professor  of  geography  and  elements. of 
history 

Professor  of  Mexican  history 

Professor  of  fcojiographical,  iineal,  and 
geographical  diawing 

Assistant  professor  of  topographical, 
lineal,  and  geographical  drawing 

Professor  of  mechanical  and  architect- 
uial  drawing 

Professor  of  French 

Professor  of  English   ... 

Professor  of  gymnastics  and  swimming. 

Piofessor  of  fi'Licing 

Professor  of  fencing  (a.ssistant) 

Preparer  of  apparatus  for  class  of  phys- 
ics   

Preparer  of  apparatus  for  class  of  chem- 
ist ry  

Corporal  of  buglei  s 

Fiist  captain  of  cadets 

Second  ca]>f,ain  of  cadets 

Lieu  tenant  of  cadets 

First  sergeant  of  cadets 

Second  sergeant  of  cadets 

Corporal  of  cadets 

Private  of  cadets 

Musician 

! 
Service. 

Superintendent  (third  in  command)  ...I 

i  Nurse  for  the  ho.spital 

I  Kidiug  master,  also  veterinary 

'  Couk I 

his  rank. 


1,  080  00 
192  00 
300  00 
300  40 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO.  1^51 

Salaries  of  the  ciril  and  military  officers  and  emi)loii6s  of  J/earico— Coutiuiied. 


Occupations. 


Service — Continued. 


Artificer 

Scullion 

Janitor 

Keeper  of  thefore.st. 
Gardiner 


Battalion  of  sappers. 


Colonel  of  the  staff 

Lieutenant-colonel  of  the  staff 

Major  of  the  staff 

Adjutant,  tirst  captaiu  of  the  staff.. 
Subadjutant,  lieutenant  of  the  staff. 

First  captain  of  the  staff.    

Second  captain  of  the  staff 

Lieutenant  of  the  staff 

First  sergeant 

Second  sergeant 

Corporal    

Private  and  musicians 

Teamster 


$158 

40 

120 

00 

144 

00 

.S60 

00 

140  00 

2,  826  00 

1,  807  20 

1,560 

00 

1,140 

00 

840 

00 

1,140 

00 

9«0 

00 

780 

00 

360 

00 

313 

20 

157 

50 

135  00 

180 

00 

COUPS  OF  AKTILLEKY. 

General  or  colonel  of  the  staff,  chief  of 
department,  pay  of  his  rank 

Lieutenant-colonel  of  the  staff',  chief  of 
first  section 

Chief  of  the  section  of  material  and  ex- 
penses   ..   

Firstcaptain  of  the  staff.  translator,also 
in  charfie  of  the  archives 

Powder-guard  clerk 


General  ammunition  department. 

Colonel  of  the  staff,  chief  of  the  depart- 
ment  

First  captain  of  the  staff" 

Lieutenant  of  the  staff,  adjutant...... . 

Storehouse-keeper  (considered  as  third 
in  command) 

Paymaster  (considered  as  third  in  com- 
mand)   

Powder-gnard  

Thiid-class  artificer 

Doorkeeper . ; 

Trustworthy  laborer(Peon  de  confianza) 

JVork-shoxis. 

Colonel  or  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  staff, 
dii-eclor 

First  captain  of  the  staff 

Lioutenant  of  the  staff,  adjutant 

Storeliouse  keeper  (considered  as  third 
in  command) 

Paymaster  (considered  as  third  in  com- 
mand)   

Powder-iruard 

Doorkeeper 

Trustworthy  laborer  (Peon  de  con- 
fianza) . . .". 


Company  of  workmen. 


Second  captain  of  the  staff. 

Lieutenant  of  the  .^taff 

First-class  machinist 

Second-class  machinist 

Head  worknian 

Sergeant  of  workmen 

Corporal  of  workmen 

First-class  workman 

Second-class  workman 

Third-class  workman 

Apprentice  .• 


Occupations. 


Salary. 


School  of  artillery. 


Colonel,  director 

Lieutenant-colonel  or  major,  subdirect- 
or 

First  or  second  captain  or  lieutenant, 
secretary 

First  sergeant,  clerk 

Si  cond  sergeant,  head  doorkeeper  . . . 

Assistant  doorkeeper 


1,807  20 
2,  820  00 


1, 140  00 
720  00 


2,  826  00 

1, 140  00 

780  00 

1,140  00 

960  00 
720  00 
225  00 
360  00 
360  00 


(*) 
1, 140  00 
780  00 

1, 140  00 

960  00 
72C  00 
360  00 

360  00 


960  00 

780  00 

1,140  00 

1,080  00 

900  00 

630  00 

540  00 

450  00 

360  00 

225  00 

135  00 


Battalion  of  artillery. 


Colonel - .  - 

Lieutenant-colonel 

Major  

Adjutant,  first  captaiu. . 
Subadjutant,  lieutenant 

First  captain 

Second  captain 

Lieutenant 

First  sergeant 

Second  sergeant 

Corporal 

Private  and  musician... 

Ve  teriuary    

Riding-master 

Saddler .. 

Corporal  of  teamsters. .- 

First  class  teamster 

Artificer 


Squadron  of  train  guards. 


Major 

First  captain,  cliief  of  detachment. 

Lieutenant,  adjutant 

Second  captaiu 

Lieutenant 

First  sergeant 

Second  sergeant 

Bugler 

Corporal  of  teamsters 

First-class  teamsters 

Riding-master 

Veterinary 

Saddler 

Artificer 


MILITAUY  POLICE. 

Colonel  or  lieutenant-colonel  of  cav- 
alry  

M;ijor,  chief  of  detachment 

Subadjutant,  ensign 

First  captaiu 

Second  captain 

Lieutenant 

Ensign ■ 

Fir.st  sergeant 

Second  sergeant  

Corporal 

Private  and  musician 

Veterinary 

Saddler 

Artificer 


DEPARTMENT  OF    INFANTRY. 


G  encrjil  or  colonel,  chief  of  the  depart- 
ment of  infantry  and  cavalry 

Colonel  of  infantry,  subinspector 

Lieutenant-colonel  of  infantry 

Major  of  infantry 

First  ca])tain  of  infantry 

Second  captain  of  infantry 

Lieutenant  of  infantry • 

*  Pay  of  his  rank. 


$2,  826  00 

(*) 

(*) 

360  00 

313  20 

ISO  00 


2,  826  00 

1,  807  20 

1,  560  00 

1, 140  00 

78U  00 

1,  140  00 

960  00 

780  00 

360  OO 

313  20 

167  50 

135  00 

360  00 

360  00 

360  00 

270  00 

225  00 

180  00 


1,  560  00 
1, 140  00 
840  00 
960  00 
780  CO 
360  00 
313  20 
135  00 
270  00 
225  00 
360  00 
360  00 
360  00 
180  00 


(*) 

1,  560  GO 

780  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  020  00 

840  00 

780  00 

540  00 

480  00 

420  00 

360  00 

340  00 

360  00 

180  00 


(*) 

2,  466  00 

1,  652  40 

1,468  80 

960  00 

840  00 

720  00 


132  LABOR    JN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  employes  of  Mexico — Continued. 


Occupations. 


Battalion  of  infantry. 


Colonel 

Lieutenant  colonel 

Major 

First  captain,  adjutant 

Sublieutenant,  subadjutant 

rirat  captain 

Second  captain 

Lieutenant 

Sublieutenant 

First  sergeant 

Second  seriieant 

Corporal 

Private  and  musician 

Teamster , 


DEl'ARTMEKT  01'"  CAVALRY. 


Colonel,  subinspector. 
Lieutenant-colonel  ... 

Major 

First  captain 

Second  captain 

Lieutenant 


Regiment  of  cavalry. 


Colonel 

Lieutenant-colonel 

Major 

First  captain,  adjutant 

Se<-ond  subadjutant,  ensign. 

First  captain 

Second  captain 

Lieutenant  

BnsiKU 

First  sergeant 

Second  sergeant 

Corjioral 

Private  and  musician 

Satldler 

Veterinary 

Artificer 

Teamster 


DEPARTMENT  OF  MARINE. 


Chief  of  department. 

Assistant 

Clerk 


Cbi<-f  of  siiuadron 

Captain  or  commander  ... 

SeoDUil  lieutenant 

First  lio;its\vain 

Second  boatswain 

Gunner 

Carpenter 

Cook      

Steward 

Surgeon  

First  corporal  of  sailors  . . 
Second  corporal  of  sailors. 

Fiist-class  sailor 

Second-class  sailor 

Firstcla.'iH  gun-corporal  . . 
Second-class  gun-corporal 

Hugli-r  or  drummer , 

Engineer,  inspector 

First-class  euginecr 

Second-class  engineer , 

Third  class  engineer 

Ai>X)renti(;e  engineer 

First-class  fireman 

Second-class  fireman 


$2.  466  00 

1,  652  40 

1, 468  80 

1,140  00 

660  00 

960  00 

840  00 

720  00 

660  00 

.360  00 

234  00 

135  00 

112  50 

180  00 


2,  714  40  I 
1,  807  20 
1,  560  00  I 

1,  140  00  I 
960  00  ] 
780  CO  ! 


2,  714  40 

1,807  20 

1,  560  9(> 

1,140  00 

720  00 

1,140  01) 

960  00 

780  00 

720  00 

360  00 

270  00 

157  50 

135  00 

360  00 

360  00 

180  00 

180  00 


3,  000  00 

1,200  00 

600  00 


3,000  00 

2, 100  no 

1,440  00 

540  00 

360  00 

540  00 

420  00 

240  00 

300  00 

300  00 

300  00 

240  00 

180  00 

120  00 

■300  00 

240  00 

1><0  00 

2,100  00 

1,800  00 

1,440  00 

1,  200  00 

300  00 

480  00 

240  00 

*  Pay  of 


Occupations. 


DEPARTMENT    OF    THE    INTE- 
SIOR. 


SECRETARY'S  OFFICE. 


Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
Chief  clerk 


First  section. 

Chief  of  lirst  section,  inspector  of  the 

other  five , 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk  

Supernumerary 

Second  section. 

Chief  of  section 

First  a'^sistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

Supernumerary 

Third  section. 

Chief  of  section,  inspector  of  rural  po- 
lice       

First  assistant  

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

Fourth  section. 

Chief  of  section,  inspector  of  public  im- 
provements   

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Treasurer 

Inspector  (visitador)  

Clerk  (auditor  of  the  Treasury) 

Clerk 


Salary. 


$4,  500  00 
4,  500  00 


3 

000  00 

1 

2(10  00 

800  00 

600  00 

180  00 

3 

000  00 

1 

200  00 

800  00 

600  00 

180  00 

Fifth  section. 


Chief  of  section . 

Assistant 

Clerk      

Supernumerary . 


Section  of  the  archives. 

Chief  of  section,  general  clerk  . 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

Sujiei  nuraerary 


Service. 


Doorkeeper. 
Janitor 


SCIIOOI,  FOR  THE  BUND. 


Director 

Ailministrator 

Professor  of  primary  instruction 

I  Professor  of  secondary  instruction   .. 

I  Lady  in  charge  of  the  interior  of  the 

house 

Lady  prcfesscu- for  gills 

Keeper  of  chililren 

j  I'rofe.ssor  otiI  brass  instruments,  leader 
j      of  the  orchestra 

Professor  of  gymnastics  

Professiir  (lads)  of  piano  for  girls 

Professor  of  stiinged  instruments 

I  Professor  of  the  clarionet 

his  rank. 


3,  000  00 

1,  800  00 

1,  000  00 

600  00 


3,  000  00 

1,  800  00 
800  00 

2,  000  OO 
1,  800  00 

800  00 
600  00 


3,  000  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 

180  00 


1,  500  00 

1,  200  00 

800  00 

600  00 

180  00 


600  00 
240  00 


1,  200  00 
360  00 
900  00 
480  00 

480  00 
680  00 
300  00 

480  00 
240  00 
240  00 
240  00 
240  00 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 
Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  employes  of  Mexico — Continned. 


133 


Occnpations. 


School  for  the  blind— Continned. 


Professor  of  the  flute 

Professor  of  tlie  liaiitboy  and  fagot 

Professor  of  printinji 

Professor  of  the  l)iiH8  guitar 

Professor  of  the  piano,  also  instructor 

in  singinj:  for  children. 

Professor  of  eane- weaving 

Professou  of  lace  making 

Professor  of  book-binding 

Professor  of  chain-making 

Lady  instructor  in  cigarette  making... 

Doorkeeper 

Chamberlain 

Janitor 

Cook 

Scullion 

Chambermaid 

Gardener 

Doctor 

Washerwoman 


Salary. 


SCnOOL  OF  ARTS  AND  PROFESSIONS  FOE 
WOMKX. 


Director 

Subdirectress 

First  monitor 

Second  monitor 

Thiid  monitor 

Fourth  monitor 

Ladv  in  charge  of  expenditures.. 

Clork 

Pupil  in  charge  of  the  wardrobe. 
Book-keeper  and  paymaster 


HOAUl)   OK   HKALTH. 


Voter  (vocal) 

Secretary  

Clerk  of  statistics 

Clerk    

First  general  messenger 

Second  general  messenger 

Preserver  of  vacuna 

Collector  (ageute)  of  vacuna 

Keeper  of  vacuna 

Vaccinator  foi'  the  federal  district. 
Inspector  of  drinks  and  eatables.. 
Auxiliary  of  above 


RURAL  POLICE. 


Corps  of  cavalry. 


Commandant 

Chief  of  detachment 

Paymaster 

First  corporal 

Second  corporal 

Private 


$1240  00 
240  00 
240  00 
120  00 

240  00 

240  00 

240  Oil 

240  00 

120  00 

84  00 

108  00 

108  00 

108  00 

108  00 

72  00 

96  00 

120  00 

192  00 

384  00 


1,200  00 
1,0(10  00 
360  00 
360  00 
36u  00 
360  00 
300  00 
180  00 
96  00 
360  00 


1,400  00 
800  00 
800  00 
500  00 
240  00 
•  180  00 

1,  000  00 
460  00 
460  00 
600  00 

2,  400  00 
600  00 


2,  520  00 

1,  800  00 

1,  440  00 

1,260  00 

720  00 

405  00 


MUNICIPAL  POLICE. 

Mounted  police. 

Commandant |  2,  000  00 

Chief  of  battalion j  1,  COO  00 

Paymaster -  1,  600  00 

(y'ompany  commandant 1,000  00 

Second  adjutant '  800  00 

Clerks 800  09 

Detachment  commander I  365  00 

Private i  273  75 

Farrier 540  00 

Saddler 365  00 

Armorer 365  00 


Occupations. 


Foot  police. 

Chief  of  battalion  attached  to  central 

station  

Paymaster  attached  to  central  station. . 

Company  commandant 

Clerk  ..: 

Private 

Auxiliai  y 

POSTAL  SERVICE. 


Central  office. 


Postmaster-general . 

General  clerk 

Ordinary  clerk 


First  section. 


Salary. 


$1,600  00 

1,  600  00 

1,  000  00 

840  00 

365  00 

182  50 


4,  500  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 


Chief  of  section |  3,  000  00 

Clerk.s,  speaking  Eogli-sh  and  French..  1,  200  00 

Keeper  of  the  archives 1,200  00 

Clei  k 1  600  00 

Printer    I  500(0 

Assistant  printer I  300  00 


Second  section. 


Chief  of  section  . 
First  a.ssistant . . . 
Second  assistant. 


2,400  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 


Third  section. 


Chief  of  section 2,400  00 


First  assistant 

First  assistant  in  charge  of  stamps. 

Second  assistant 


1,  200  00 

1,  800  00 

600  00 


Fourth  section. 


Chief  of  section 3,000  00 

Examining  clerk  1,500  00 

First  bookkeeper 2,400  00 

Second  book-keeper 1,000  00 

Cashier I  1,800  00 

Clerk !  600  00 


Service. 


Doorkeeper . 
Messenger . . 


Special  agents. 


District  inspector 

Supernumerary  inspector  (visitador) . . . 

DEPAKT:\IENT  of  PUBLIC 
AVOKKS,  COLONIZATION,  IN- 
Dl'STKY,  AND  COMMERCE. 

secretary's  OFFICE. 

Secretary  of  public  works,  coloniza- 
tion, iudustry,  and  commerce 

Chief  clerk , 


Section  1. — Geography,  statistics,  coloni- 
.    zation,  and  public  lands. 


Chief  of  section  . 
Fiist  assistant... 
Secoud  assisiant . 
Third  .assistant.. 
Fourth  assistant. 
Fifth  assistant... 
Clork 


400  00 
300  00 


3,  200  00 
1,  800  00 


8,  000  00 
4,  500  00 


3,  000  00 
2,  000  00 
1,800  00 
!,  500  00 
1,200  00 
960  00 
6O0  00 


134  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO, 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  offic(rs  and  emploijeH  of  Ifextco— Contiuued. 


Occupations. 


Section  2.— Industry,  mints,  telegraphs, 
weights,  and  measures. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Clerk 

Section  3. — Road*,  bridges,  canals,  rail- 
roads, drainage  of  the  Valley  of  2Iexico, 
harbor  and  general  improvement. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Fourth  assisfant 

Fifth  assistant 

Clerk 

Section  4. — AgrictMure,  commerce,  and 
mining. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assistant 

Fourth  assistant 

Clerk 

Section  5, — Pay  department,  revision, 
and  auditing  of  the  accounts  of  all 
branches  of  the  Department,  including 
telegraphy. 


Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Third  assisfant 

Fourth  assistant 

Fifth  assistant 

Sixth  assistant '. . . 

Seventh  assistant  (examiner) 
Clerk ; 


Section  6. — Maps  of  the  department. 


Engineer  director 

Draftsman 
Aspirant  (aspirante). 


Section  of  the  archives. 


Keeper  of  the  archives. 

General  clerk 

Clerk 


Salary. 


Occupations. 


Service. 


Doorkeeper. 
Messenger .. 
Orderly 


GENERAL  DIKECTOUY  OF  STATISTICS  AND 
bOCIETY  OF  GEOGUAPHV  AND  STA- 
TISTICS. 

General  directory  of  statistics. 


Director 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk  of  the  archives  . 

Clerk , 

General  messenger 


$3,  000  00 

2,000  00 

1,800  00 

1,  500  00 

600  00 


3,  000  00 
2,  000  00 
1,  800  00 
1,  500  00 
1,200  00 
900  00 
600  00 


3,  000  00 
2,  400  00 
2,  000  00 
1,800  00 
1,  500  00 
600  00 


3 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 

000  00 
000  00 
800  00 
200  00 
200  00 
000  00 
960  00 
900  00 
GOO  00 

2 
1 

000  00 
200  00 
600  00 

1 

800  00 
()00  00 
600  00 

600  00 
300  00 
60  00 

Society  of  geography  and  statistics. 


Clerk 

Messenger 


3,  000  00 

2,  000  00 

1,  .500  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 

300  00 


GOO  00 
300  00 


CENTRAL     METEOROLOGICAL    OBSERVA- 
TORY. 

Director 

First  observer  (subdirector) 

Second  observer  

Auxiliary 

Telegraph  operator 

General  messenger 

DEPARTMENT  OF  JUSTICE  AKD 
PUBLIC  INSTRUCTION. 

•     SECRETARY'S  OFFICE. 

Secretary  of  justice  and  public  instruc- 
tion   

Chief  clerk 

Section  of  justice. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

Section  of  public  instruction. 

Chief  of  section 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant 

Clerk 

Section  of  the  archives. 

Keeper  of  the  archives 

Clerk  in   charge  of  the  department's 

statistics  . .  - 

Clerk 

Service. 

Doorkeeper 

Chief  messenger 

General  messenger 

PALACE  OF  JUSTICE. 

Doorkeeper 

Messenger 

TRIKUNALS  OF  THE  FEDERAL  DISTRICT. 

Supreme  court  of  the  district. 

Property-holding  j udge 

Property-holding  judge  (supernumer- 
ary)   

Secretary  

Cliinf  clerk 

Book-keeper  of  the  first  hall 

Clerk  of  proceedings 

Clerk 

Librarian 

Solicitor 

Executor 

Janitor 

.Doorkeeper 


Civil  courts. 


Judge  of  civil  courts. 

Secretarv  

Chief  clerk 

Clerk  of  proceedings. 

Clerk 

Commissary 


Criminal  courts. 

Judge  of  criminal  courts 

Secretary  

Clerk 

Commissary 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO.  135 

Salaries  of  tie  civil  and  militari/  officers  and  employ^H  of  Mixico — Contiaued. 


Occupations. 


Public  office. 


Solicitor  ol' justice 

Deputy 

Book-keeper 

Clerk 

General  messeufrer 

Clerk  hired  sessious 

Connnissarj'  of  Belom  prison,  assistant 

of  above 

Attorney  for  tlie  poor 


Petty  courts. 


Judge  

Secretary  (attorney) . 

Chief  clerk .". . . 

Clerk 

Commissary 


DEPART^fE^•T  OF    I'UULIC    INSTRUCTION. 

Directive  committee  of  public  instruc- 
tion. 


Secretary 

Clerk 

Doorkeeper  of  the  Ex-Hospital  de  Tar- 
ceros  and  of  the  School  of  Commerce. 

Doorkeeper 

Messenger , 

Dustniau 


Secondary  school/or  girls. 


Directress 

Subdirectress  i  also  chief  prefect 

Secretary  of  this  school  and  the  annex 
of  the  finishing  school  l  also  in  cliarj;o 
of  the  library : 

Prefeet 

Professor  of  mathematics,  first  and  sec- 
ond ,\  ears  

Professor  of  mathematics,  third  and 
fou ith  years 

Professor'  of  mathematics,  fifth  and 
sixth  years;  also  inspector  of  the 
classes  of  the  two  forogoing 

I'rofessor  of  physics  aud  elements  of 
chemistry,  ftftii  .and  sixth  years 

A.ssistant  of  above ." 

Professor  of  theoretical  tolenraphy. . . . 

Professor  of  practical  telegraphy. 

Professor  of  tjal vano-plastic  .      

Professor  of  S])anish  grammar,  first 
and  second  years 

Pruft  ssor  of  Spanish  grammar,  third 
and  toiiith  years 

Professor  of  "Spanish  grammar,  fifth 
and  sixth  years;  also  insi)eetor  of 
the  classes  of  the  two  foregoing 

Professor  of  chronology  andgeography, 
fii st  and  second  years  

Professor  of  history,  third  and  fourth 
years 

Professor  of  history,  fifth  and  sixth 
years;  also  inspector  preceding 
years'  classes 

Profes.sor  of  peinnauship    

Professor  of  book-keeping 

Professor  of  medicine,  domestic  econ- 
omy, aud  duties  of  wonum 

Professor  oi'  hygiene  aud  physiology ; 
also  physician  of  the  school 

Professor  of  natural  and  ornamental 
drawing  and  painting  in  water  colors. 

Assistant  of  above 

Professor  of  French 

Professor  of  English 

Professor  of  Itjliau   

Professor  of  manual  labor 


600  00 
2,  400  00 


2,  400  00 

1,  200  00 

720  00 

360  00 

300  00 


1,  200  00 
800  00 

600  00 

240  00 

192  00 

60  00 


1,  200  00 
1,  200  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  200  00 
600  00 
720  00 
720  00 
600  00 

1,200  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  200  00 
1,  200  00 
1,200  00 


1,  200  00 

600  00 

1,200  00 

1,  200  00 

1,200  00 


Occupations. 


Salarv. 


Secondary  school  for  yirls — Continued. 

Professor  of  teachiug 

Professor  of  operatic  singing 

Professor  of  piano  nuisic 

Assistant  for  tlie  two  foregoing 

Professor  of  horticultures  and  garden- 
ing, and  the  elements  of  practical 
and  natural  sciences,  with  their  ap 
plication  to  the  ordinary  usages  of 
life 

Instructress  in  the  higher  branches  of 
manual  Labor  and  in  the  art  of  ar- 
ranging mosses 

Instructor  in  fancy-bos  making  and 
wood-carving    

Professor  of  gymnastics  for  the  school 
and  also  for  the  finishing  annex 

Doorkeeper 

Assistant  doorkeeper 

A  servant  for  the  dei>artment8  of  phys- 
ics, chemistry,  natur.al  history,  tele- 
graphy, and  galvano-plastic,  who  as- 
sists in  making  preparations  for  ex- 
periments  

Maid  servant 

Man  servant 

Watchman 

A  servant  wlio  attends  to  the  pumps- 
and  waters  the  fiowers  of  the  estao- 
lishment 


Preparatory  school  for  boys. 


Director 

Ciiief  prefect  and  secretary 

Clerk  of  the  directory  and  secretary's 
ofiice  

Prefect 

Superintendent 

Clerk  of  superintendent  

Librarian 

Assistant  librarian 

Professor  of  mathematics,  first  course . , 

Assistant  professor  of  mathematics, 
first  course 

Professor  of  mathematics,  second 
course 

Professor  of  cosmography  and  geogra- 
phy  ■- -.     .. 

Assistant  in  charge  of  the  ai)paratus 
of  the  foregoing  classes,  of  the  astro- 
nomical observatory,  and  of  the  col- 
lection of  mineralogy,  and  geology. .. 

Professor  of  physics 

Assistant,  who  performs  experiments. . 

Assistant  of  above  ... 

Professor  of  practical  mechanics 

Professor  of  mineralogy  and  geology. . . 

Professor  of  chemistry 

Assistant,  wlio  ])rei)ares  the  experi- 
mental apparatus 

Allowance  for  above  when  he  performs 
expci-iiiu;nts 

Prolessor  of  natural  history 

Assistant  in  charge  of  the  geological 
department  and  the  botanical  mu- 
seum  

Assistant  of  above,  in  charge  of  the 
garden  and  green-house 

Professor  of  logic  and  morals 

i  Professor  of  general  clironology  and 

I      Mexican  liistory 

I  Professor  of  music 

Professor  of  shorthand  writing 

1  Professor  of  gyninastics 

Professor  of  literature 

Allowance  to  one  of  tlie  foregoing  who 

teaches  matliematics 

!  Professor  of  Latin 

I  Professor  of  Spanish 


$1,  200  OO 
700  00 
700  OO 
500  OO 


1,  200  00 

1,  200  00 

600  OO 

300  00 
500  OO 
300  OO 


300  09 
144  00 
144  OO 
180  OO 


144  00 


o 

000 

OO 

1 

300  00 

600 

00 

760 

00 

1 

000 

00 

300 

00 

700  OO 

600 

OO 

1 

200 

00 

1 

000 

OO 

1 

200 

00 

1 

200  00 

480  OO 

1 

200 

00 

1 

000 

OO 

300 

00 

1 

000 

00 

1 

200 

00 

1 

200  00 

1 

200  00 

300 

OO 

1 

200 

00 

1,200  00 


480  OO 

1 

200  00 

1 

200  00 

400  00 

800  00 

500  00 

1 

200  00 

600  00 

800  00 

1 

200  00 

136  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  employi's  of  Mexico — Continued. 


Occupatious. 


Preparatory  school  for  boys — Continaed. 

Professor  of  Mexican  or  Nahuatl 

Professor  of  Greek 

Professor  of  French 

Professor  of  English 

Professor  of  Geiniau 

Professor  of  Italian 

Professor  of  lineal  drawing 

Professor  ofgalvano-piastic  and  electro- 
gilding 

Assistant  of  foregoing 

Professor  of  ])racticai  telegraphy 

Professor  of  theoretical  telegraphy.. 

Professor  of  natural  and  ornamental 
drawing ..   


Salary. 


Service. 


Head  doorkeeper 

Dooi  keeper  of  the  big  side  of  the  school 

building , 

Dooi  keeper  of  the  little  side  of  the 

school  building 

Chief  of  servants 

Janitor  and  servant  of  the  telegraphy 

class '. . 

Master's  doorkeeper 

Servant  of  the  iihysics  class 

Servant  of  the  cluiiiii'al  class 


Servant  of  the  natural  liistory  class, 

who  also  collects  plimts 

Servant  of  the  galvauo-plastic  class   ... 

Servant  (general) 

Gardener 

A  ssistant  gardener 


SCHOOL  OF  JURISriiUDENCE. 

Director 

Secretary 

Pi'efect 

Superintendent 

Librarian 

Professor  of  liter.attire  and  eloquence.. 

Professor  of  natural  law 

Clerk  of  the  secretary 

Professor  of  first  course  of  Roman  law. 

Professor  of  second  course  of  IJoman 
law 

Professor  of  first  course  of  national 
law 

Professor  of  second  course  of  national 
law 

Professor  of  constitutional  and  admin- 
istrative law  

Professor  of  international  and  maritime 
law 

Professor  of  elements  of  penal  legisla- 
tion .... 

Professor  of  civil  jiroceedings  

•Profepsor  of  criminal  proceedings 

Professor  of  com|iaiaiive  legislation... 

Professor  of  legal  uieilieitie. 

Professor  of  political  economy 


Service. 


Doorkeeper 

Assistant  doorkeeper. 
Servant 


SCHOOI,  OF  MKDICINE. 


Directors 

Secretary 

Superintendent 

Prefect 

Librarian,  al.so  clerk 

Assistant  of  librarian 

Professor  of  descriptive  anatomy. 


$800  00 
1,000  00 
700  OU 
700  00 
700  00 
700  00 
700  00 

720  00 
300  00 
720  00 
720  00 

700  00 


300  00 
240  00 

192  00 
240  00 
192  00 
192  00 

300  00 
192  00 
192  00 
300  00 
144  00 


2,  000  00 
1,  0()0  00 

760  00 
1,000  00 

460  00 
1,200  00 
1,200  00 

300  00 
1,200  00 

1,  200  00 

1,200  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  200  00 

1, 200  00 
1,200  00 
1,  2110  00 
3,200  00 
1,200  00 
1,  200  00 


300  00 
240  00 
240  00 


Occupations. 


Preparatory  school  for  6oj/«— Continaed. 

Professor  of  practical  and  theoretical 
pharmacy 

Professor  of  physiology 

Professor  of  general  and  topographical 
anatomy 

Professor'of  external  pathology  forsec- 
ou<l  year 

Profes.sor  of  external  pathology  for 
third  year 

Professor  of  external  clinic  for  second 
y^ar 

Professor  of  internal  clinic  for  third 
year 

Professor  of  external  clinic  for  fourth 
J  ear 

Professor  of  internal  clinic  for  fifth  year 

Professor  of  internal  pathology  for  sec- 
ond year 

Piofessor  of  internal  pathology  for 
thiid  year 

Professor  of  history  of  drugs 

Prcfessor  ot  chemical  analysis  

Assistant  preparer  of  ajiparatus  Ibr 
above 

Professor  of  obstetrics 

Professor  of  clinic  of  obstetrics 

Professor  of  legal  medicine 

Assistant  preparer  of  mixtures  for 
above 

Piofessor  of  normal  histology  (general 
and  special)   

Professor  of  public  and  private  hy- 
giene and  medicinal  meteorology 

Assistant  (pi  eparer  for  above) 

Professor  of  operative  medicine 

Professor  of  general  pathology  

Professor  of  therapeutics . . . 

Assistant  (propaier  of  apparatus  for 
the  clas.ses  of  pharmacy  and  histoiy 
of  drugs  '. 

Assistant  for  classes  of  physiology  and 
pharmacology 

Dis.sector  for  professor  of  descriptive 
anatomy 

Dissector  for  professor  of  topographi- 
cal anatomy ~ 

Assistant  for  professor  of  nomial  his- 
tology   

Assistant  for  professor  of  topographi- 
cal anatomy 

Assistant  explainer  (repetidor)  of  the 
practical  working  of  operative  medi- 
cine          

Assistant  for  internal  clinic,  third  year. 

Assistant  for  internal  clinic,  fifth  year. . 

Assistant  for  osterual  clinic,  fourth 
year 

Assistant  for  external  clinic,  second 

Assistant  for  clinic  of  obstetrics 

Kepairor  and  keeper  of  anatomical  mu- 
seum   

Secretary  for  offices  of  director,  secre- 
tary, and  treasurer 


Salary, 


! 

2.  000  00 

800  00 

3,000  00 

760  00 

COO  00 

300  00 

1,  400  00 

Service. 

Head  doorkeeper,  chief  of  servants 

Assistant  doorkeeper. 

Servant  of  the  pharmacy  and  chemical 
clas.ses  

Assistant  of  the  pharmacy  and  chem- 
ical classes   ". 

Servant  of  the  anatomy  and  practical 
classes 

Assistant  of  the  anatomy  and  practical 
classes 

Servant  of  the  histology,  hj'giene,  and 
physiology  classes 

Janitor 


400  00 
200  00 

200  00 

200  00 

200  00 

400  09 

400  00 

400  00 
400  00 

, 200  00 

200  00 
200  00 
400  00 

800  00 

200  00 

4U0  00 

200  00 

COO  00 

200  00 

200  00 

600  00 
200  00 
200  00 
200  00 

80O  00 
600  00 
800  00 
800  00 
600  00 
200  00 

800  00 
800  00 
800  00 

800  00 

800  00 
800  00 

500  00 

500  00 


400  00 
300  00 


240  00 
240  00 


240  00 
240  00 


240  00 
240  00 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO.  137 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  employes  of  Mexico — Continued. 


Occupations. 


SCHOOL  OF  COMMERCE. 


Director 

Secretary  

Maiiitaiuer  of  order,  and  assistaut  sec- 
retiuy 

LibTiirinn  and  keejjer  of  the  museum 

Profi'ssor of  aiithemetic and  mercantile 
coi  lesuondeuce 

Proft<:saor  of  Government  book-keeping. 

Professor  of  oomiiiertial  t>ook-kt-eping. 

Proff.ssor  of  sreojiraphy,  statistics,  and 
history  of  eoiiiinerce 

Professor  of  mercantile,  consular,  and 
maritime  law 

Professor  ot  adininistrativo  and  consti- 
tutional law    

Professor  of  practical  knowledge  of 
home  and  foreign  produets  . . . ." 

Professor  of  chemistry  applied  to  com- 
merce   

Assistant  who  prepares  mixtures  for 
above 

Professor  of  French  (morninff  classes). 

Professor  of  French  (eveninj;  classes) 

Professor  of  Kn;:Iisli  (morning classes). 

Professorof  Eny:lish  (evening  classes). 

Professor  of  (Jerniau 

Professor  of  political  economy,  theory 
of  eredit.  rights  of  tlie  people,  diplo- 
matic usages,  and  correspondence... 

Professor  of  MeMcaii  liistory 

Janitor 

Servant  of  the  chemical  class 


Occapations. 


$1, 5oe  00 

600  00 

400  00 
300  00 

800  00 

1,  000  00 

800  00 

1,200  OU 

1,  200  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 

800  00 


SCHOOL  OF  FINE  AKTS. 


Director 

Subdireetor  and  seeri-tary 

Superintendent,  treasurer,  and  prefect 
Watcher  (celador)  over  the  students.. 

Librarian,  also  clerk 

Professor  of  painting  

Professor  of  sculpture  and  ornauiental 

molding 

Professor  of  embossing 

Professor  of  e-igraving  on  plates 

Professor  of  drawing  from  nature 

Professor  of  drawing  from  copies  (day 

classes) 

Profes.sor    of   drawing    from     copies 

(nil: lit  classes) 

Professor  of  diawinsi  with  crayon 

Professor  of  decorative  and  ornamental 

drawing 

Profes.sor  of  anatomy  of  figures 

Professor  of  lineal  drawing       

Professor  of  composition  architectme, 

classic  orders,    and   copy   of  monu- 


300  00 

6.'>0  00 

C.30  00 

650  00 

6.i0  00 

700  00 

1 

,  200  00 

J 

, 200  00 

240  00 

100  00 

1 

200  00 

1 

200  00 

1 

200  00 

500  00 

720  00 

1 

200  00 

Professor  of  descriptive  geometry  and 
stereotypography   

Professor  of  legal  architecture,  esti- 
mates, valuations,  anil  topo!ira))hy.. 

Professor  of  rational  (racioual)  and  ap- 
plied mechanics  

Professor  of  elementary  minerology 
and  iieology,  who  will  also  make  a 
chemical  analysis  of  the  building 
materials  used  in  this  city 

Professcu-  of  practical  consttnction, 
'architecture,  and  carpentry  .   

Keeper  of  the  galleries  of  painting  and 
sculpture 

Keejjerof  the  galleries  of  engraving.. 

Restorer  of  paintings 


Service. 


Doorkeeper . 
Servant 


1,200  00 
1,200  00 
1,  200  00 
1,500  00 

800  00 

800  00 
800  00 

1,500  00 
fiOO  00 
COO  00 


1,  200  00 
1,  200  0» 
1,  200  00 
1,  200  00 

1,  000  00 

1,  200  00 

360  00 
240  00 
900  00 


300  00 
240  00 


SCHOOL  OF  ARTS  AND  TRADES. 


Director 

Secretary,  chief  prefect,  and  librarian. 

Superintendent  and  treasurer 

Toolaiul  store  housekeeper 

Prefect 

Professor  of  French 

Professor  of  English 

Professor  of  mathematics 

Professor  of  natural  and  ornamental 
drawing   

Professor  of  molding  and  wood  carv- 
ing   

Professor  of  lineal  and  mechanical 
drawing 

Piofessor  of  Spanish  grammar,  arith- 
metic, geography,  .and  penmanship.. 

Professor  of  physics  and  elementary 
mechanics 

Professor  of  general  and  industrial 
chemistrj' 

Assistaut  preparer  of  apparatus  for 
above 

Assistant  preparer  of  apparatus  for 
physics  class 

Director  of  work-rooms ....   

Assistant  director  of  work-rooms 

Servant  of  w  ork  -rooms 

Professor  of  music 

Professor  of  gymnastics 


Salary. 


$2,  000  00 

1,  MO  00 

1,000  00 

1.  200  00 

760  00 

700  00 

700  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 


Doorkeeper 
Watchman  . 
Janitor 


Service. 


SCHOOL  FOR  THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB. 


Director 

General  professor 

Assistaut  professor 

Treasurer-secretary 

Ph.\sician  for  this  "school,  also  for  the 
"preparatory"  "jurisprudential " 
and  •' arts  and  trade.s"  schools 

Professor  of  horticulture  

Professor  of  drawing 

Professor  of  book-keeping 

Professor  of  penmanship 

Professor  of  gymnastics 

Prefect 

First  girl  aspirant  (aspirante)  to  a  pro- 
fessorship   

Second  girl  aspirant  (aspirante)  to  a 
professorship 

First  boy  aspirant  (aspirante)  to  a 
professorship  .   

Second  boy  aspirant  (aspirante)  to  a 
professorship 

Third  boy  aspirant  (aspirante)  toapro- 
fe.ssoiship 

Chief  workmjin  in  book-binding  and 
gihling  rooms 

Teacher  of  lithography 

Lady  prefect 

Service. 


Doorkeeper 

Cook 

Scullion 

Washerwoman    

Seamstress  and  ironer 

Servant 

Gardener 


NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


Director 

Professorof  mineralogy. . , 
Professor  of  paleontology . 
Professor  of  zoology ". . 


800 

00 

600 

00 

1,  200  00 

1,200 

00 

800  00 

800  00 

600  00 

240  00 

180  00 

480  00 

300  00 

300 

00 

180 

00 

240 

00 

1,500 

00 

1,200 

00 

600 

00 

1,  000  00 

1,000 

00 

360 

CO 

300 

00 

360 

00 

360 

00 

400 

00 

480 

00 

360 

00 

300  00 

360 

00 

300 

00 

240  00 

240 

00 

360 

00 

400  00 

180 

00 

108 

00 

72 

00 

84 

oe 

120  00 

144 

00 

150  00 

1,  .'■>oo 

00 

1,200 

00 

1,200 

00 

1,200 

00 

138  LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO. 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  emjyloyes  of  Mexico  —ContinvLed. 


Occupations. 


National  museum— Coutinued. 


Professor  of  botany 

Professor  of  taxiderra.y 

Draftsman 

Secretary,  clerk,  treasurer,  and  keeper 
of  the  collections 


Servant 

Doorkeeper 
Orderly 


Service. 


NATIONAL   LIBRARY. 

Director 

Clerk  

Librarian 

Clerk  in  chargeof  artisans'  department. 

Decipherer  of  ancient  documents 

Clerk 


Service. 

Doorkeeper , 

Assistant  doorkeeper... 

Gardener 

Messenger 


National  primary  school  for  boys  {No8. 
1,  2,  3,  and  7). 

Director,  also  professor 

Second  professor,  who  uses  objective 

method 

Assistant  professor 

Auxiliary  professor 

Professor  of  English 

Profassor  of  music 

Assistant  of  above 

Servant 

Gardener  for  No.  7 

Pupil  who  assists  in  teaching 


National  primary  school  for  girls  (Nos. 
4,  5,  G,  8,  and  9). 

Lady  professor  (directress) 

Assistant  lady  professor,  who  uses  ob- 
jective method 

Assistant  professor 

Professor  of  English 

Professor  of  English  (Xo.  9) 

Professor  of  music 

Professor  of  music  (No.  6) 

Professor  of  gymnastics 

Servant   

Pupil  wlio  as.sists  in  teaching 

Paymaster 


Occupations. 


Night  school  for  men. 

Director 

Second  professor 

Assistant  profes.sor .  - 

Servant 


Night  school  for  women. 

Directress 

Second  lady  professor 

Assistant  lady  professor 

Servant 


Finishing  school  for  girls. 

Directress  in  charge  of  reading  class, 
also  of  second  year's  cour.se  of  study 
and  English  cliiss ". . 

Assistant  lady  professor  in  charge  of 
first  year's  course  of  studies , 

Lady  prefect  in  charge  of  first  section 

Lady  prefect  in  charge  of  second  section 

Lady  prefect  in  charge  of  third  section. 

Ladv  ))r()fos3or  of  manual  labor 

Lady  pi-ofcssor  of  music 

Lady  professor  of  drawing 

Auxiliary 

Servant 


1,200  00 


300  00 

240  00 

60  00 


2,  500  00 

1,  000  00 

480  00 

700  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 


500  00 
240  00 
295  00 
200  00 


1,  200  00 

900  00 
480  00 
360  00 
600  00 
600  00 
360  00 
150  00 
1.50  00 
300  00 


1,  200  00 


900 

00 

480 

00 

600 

00 

300 

00 

600 

00 

300 

00 

300 

00 

150 

00 

300 

00 

360 

00 

800 

00 

600 

00 

300 

00 

120 

00 

800 

00 

600 

00 

300 

00 

120  00 

1,  200  00 

480  00 
480  00 
480  00 
480  00 
600  00 
600  00 
480  00 
576  00 
144  00 


Auxiliary  primary  school  for  boys. 

Director 

Assistant 

Auxiliary 

Professor  of  English 

Professor  of  English  

Professor  of  gymnastics 

Servant 

Elementary  school.  No.  1,  for  girls. 


Directress 
Assistant . 
Servant . . . 


Conservatory  of  music. 


Director    ■. 

Clerk  of  director 

Librarian  in  charge  of  music  and  in- 
struments  

Superintendent 

Clerk  of  superintendent 

Prefect  of  the  boj's 

Watchman 

Inspectress  of  girls 

Lady  watcher  (celadora)  over  the  girls. 

Assistant  of  foregoing 

Copyist  of  music  

Tuner  of  instruments 

Doorkeeper  and  gardener 

Janitor 

Street-sweeper  

Proftissor  of  elements  of  theoretical 
music  and  preliminary  ideas  of  har- 
mony   

Piofessor  of  music  for  children 

Professor  of  music  for  adults 

Professor  of  music  for  girls  and  young 
ladies 

Professor  of  chorus-singing  (solo) 

Professor  of  popular  glee-singing 

Professor  of  chorus-singing,  lyith  ac- 
companiment   

Professor  of  high  artistic  singing  and 
elementary  anatomy,  physiology,  and 
hygiene  of  the  vocal  organs 

Professor  of  the  piano 

Lady  professor  of  the  piano ....       

Professor  of  piano  accompaniments. . . . 

Professor  of  repeating  piano 

Professor  of  violin  and  viol 

Professor  of  violin    

Professor  of  repeating  violin 

Professor  of  violoncello 

Professor  of  liass  viol 

Pnif'essdi' of'liarp 

Professor  of  flute 

Piofessor  of  hautboy  and  fagot 

Professor  of  clarionet 

Professor  of  trumpet   

Professor  of  biass  instruments 

Professor  of  liarmony,  counterpoint, 
and  composition ... 

Profes.soi' of  thiol  etical  and  practical 
ajstheties.  history  of  music,  and  bio- 
graphy of  celebrated  nuisioians 

Professor  of  acousticsand  phonography 

Professor  of  music  and  zithern  playiugj 

Professor  of  writing  music 

Professor  of  French  

Pi ofessor  of  Italian 

Player  of  accompaniments 


Salary. 


$1,  000  OO 
600  00 
480  00 
300  00 
300  00 
300  00 
150  00 


600  00 
360  00 
150  00 


2,  000  00 
600  00 

800  00 
1,000  00 
360  00 
300  00 
260  00 
900  00 
720  00 
360  00 
240  00 
ISO  00 
300  00 
120  00 
36  00 


Academy  of  j)rofessors  of  primary  in- 
struction. 

Professor  of  teaching,  whose  classes 
are  attended  by  the  assistants  of  the 
primary  schools 

Secretary  


600  00 
600  00 
600  00 

600  00 
600  00 
000  00 

600  00 


1,  200  00 
600  00 
600  00 
600  00 
500  00 
600  00 
600  00 
500  00 
600  00 
600  00 
600  00 
600  00 
600  00 
600  00 
600  00 
600  00 

1,  200  OO 


, 200  00 
350  00 
350  00 
350  00 
600.00 
600  00 
210  00 


1,  200  00 
600  00 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    M?:XIC0.  139 

Salaries  of  the  civil  and  military  officers  and  vmplotj4s  of  ifexico— Coutimied. 


Occupations. 


Salary. 


Academy  of  medicine. 

Clerk  (medical  student)  $600  00 

Servant 300  00 

LEGISLATIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

CHAMHEK  OF  DEPUTIES.  i 

Deputy I    3,000  00 


CUAilBKH  OF  SEXATOKS. 


Senator  , 


OFFICE  OF  THE  CHAMBF.K  OF  C0XGUE68. 


Chief  clerk 

First  assistant 

Second  assistant   -  - 

Third  assistant 

Fourth  assistant 

Fifth  assistant     

General  clerk  auxiliary  of  the  firat  sec- 
tion         

("hief  editor 

Assistant  editor 

Clerk 

Clerk  (telegraph  operator) 


Section  of  stenography. 


Chief  stenographer 

Second  stenoiiraplier 

Ordinary  stenographer 

Supernumerary  stenographer.. 

Section  of  the  ai-chives. 


Chief  of  section     

Assistant  chief  of  section. 
Clerk 


3,  000  00 


3,  000  00 
1,800  00 
1,200  00 
1,000  00 
9U0  00 
800  00 

1,  000  00 

1,400  00 

800  00 

600  00 

800  00 


1,  800  00 
1,200  00 

720  00 
200  00 


1, 200  00 

800  00 
600  00 


Administration  of  the   "journal  of  de- 
bates." 


Director  of  the  "journal " 600  00 

Editor  of  the  "journal  " 1,200  00 

Pr.iof-reader [  300  00 

Folder 1  340  00 

Messenger |  200  00 

Treasury  of  Congress. 

Treasurer i  4,000  00 

Mes.senger ;  240  00 

■     I 
Service. 


Doorkeeper 

Doorkeeper  for  chief  clerk's  depart- 
ment   

Messen  nor         

House  guard  

Watchman 

Dustman ■ 


1,  200  00 

600 

00 

410 

on 

400 

00 

3011 

00 

72 

00 

OFFICE  OF  THE  CHAXIBEK  OF  SENATE.    | 

Chief  clerk j  3,000  00 

First  assistant   I  1,800  00 

Second  assistant i  1,200  00 

Third  assistant         I  1,000  00 

Acting  general  clerk I  800  00 

Clerk I  6C0  00 

Section  of  stenography.  \ 

Stenographer '. 1,200  00 

Clerk I  600  00 


Occupations. 


Administration  of  (he  "journal  of  de- 
bates "  of  the  Senate. 

Director 

Editor 

Folder 

Messenger • 


Section  of  the  archives. 


Chief  of  the  section 
Clerk 


Salaiy. 


Doorkeeper. 

Mes.senger.. 


Service. 


DEI'ARTMEXT  OF  THE  CHIEF  AUDITOR  OF 
THE  TllEASURY  AXD  PUUUC  CREDIT. 


Chief  auditor    

First-class  auditor 

Second  class  auditor 

Examiuing  clerk 

Book-keeper    

Corresponding  clerk 

Clerk      

Chief  of  the  archives 

Clerk  of  the  archives 

Doorkeeper 

Messenger 

Orderly 

Sjyecial  section  for  the  revision  of  re- 
tarded accounts,  commencing  on  July 
1,  1865. 

Chief  auditor 

Second  auditor 

First  examining  clerk 

Second  examining  clerk 

Third  examining  clerk  

Fourth  examining  clerk 

Fifth  examining  clerk 

Clerk 

DEPARTMENT  OF  JUSTICE. 
Supreme  court. 

Judge  of  the  supreme  court 

Supernumerary  judge  of  tho  supreme 
court 

Solicitor-general  of  the  nation 

Clerk  of  above 

Attornej--o;eneral 

Clerk  ot  aliove 

Agent  advocate,  who  is  prohibited 
from  practicing  law  within  the  fed- 
eral jurisdiction,  assistant  of  solic- 
itor and  attorney  'jenerals 

Attorney  for  the  defense  wlio  practices 
exclusively  in  the  federal  tribunals 
and  the  courts  of  the  federal  district. 


$600  00 

1,  200  00 

300  00 

240  00 

1,  000  00 
600  00 

800  00 
410  00 

4,  000  00 

2,  500  00 

2,  000  00 

1,000  00 

1,500  00 

1,  000  00 

600  00 

1,  000  00 

600  00 

500  00 

360  00 

60  00 


2,  500  00 

■>,  000  00 

1,500  00 

1,  200  00 

1,  000  00 

800  00 

700  00 

600  00 


4,  000  00 

4, 000  00 
4,  000  00 

600  00 
4,  000  00 

600  00 


2,  000  00 


Secretaryships.  , 

Secretary  of  mandates  of  the  first  court,  i 
Secretary  of  mandates  of  the  second  ' 

court    

Chief  cleik 

Assist->nt  of  above  

Book-keej)er , 

Clerk 

Auxiliary  clerk | 

Executor      , 

Second  assistant  in  charge  of  the  ar-  | 

chives  

Clerk  of  proceedings j 

Solicitor 

Service.  ' 

Doorkeeper] ' 

Janitor - 1 

Orderl  v 


2,400  00 


3,000  00 

3,  OOO  00 
2,600  00 
2,  000  00 
1,800  00 
600  00 
360  00 

eoo  00 

2,  .^OO  00 

1,  200  00 

600  00 

500  00 

300  00 

00  00 


140  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 


LOWER    CALIFORNIA. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  LAMBERT,  FOR  SAN  BLAS,  GUADALAJARA,  AND  TEQUILA 

SAN   BLAS. 

DIFFICULTY  IN   SECURING  LABOR   STATISTICS. 

Pursuant  to  the  Labor  Circular  issued  by  the  Department  of  State  at 
the  solicitation  of  the  leading-  trade  and  industrial  associations  of  the 
United  States,  Avith  a  view  of  obtaining  through  consular  officers  the 
fullest  attainable  information  concerning  the  condition  of  labor  through- 
out the  world,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  results  of  an 
imperfect  and  unsatisfactory  investigation  made  in  this  consular  dis- 
trict. 1  say  unsatisfactory-,  because  it  is  a  difficult  task  to  examine  the 
labor  question  in  this  vicinity  from  the  American  standpoint  on  account 
of  there  being  neither  racial,  climatic,  nor  industrial  similarities.  It  is 
equally  difficult  to  deduce  useful  comparison,  for  the  reason  that  a  study 
of  thesubject  hereresultsiu  presenting  to thestudentacomplete economic 
paradox,  namely:  Labor  in  this  portion  of  Mexico,  with  its  knowledge 
and  requirements,  is  more  satisfied,  contented,  aud  independent  than 
labor  at  home,  yet  a  transfer  of  the  Mexican  laborer  and  his  conditions 
into  the  United  States  would  be  at  once  revolting  to  our  ideas  of  man- 
hood and  civilization. 

HABITS   AND   CONDITION   OF   THE   LABORERS. 

As  an  abstract  proposition,  labor  in  this  consular  district  is  polite, 
honest,  and  faithful,  and  these  qualities  are  mainly  attributable  to  the 
almost  wholly  natural  and  untutored  condition  of  the  laboring  class. 

Nearly,  if  not  quite  all,  of  the  trials  and  troubles  Mexico  has  under- 
gone politically  may  be  attributed  to  the  discontent  and  ambitious  of 
men,  begotten  hj  a  promiscuous  system  of  education,  aided  no  doubt 
by  their  racial  antecedents. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  comforts  required  by  the  laborer  of  the  United 
States,  the  food  and  attention,  the  demands  of  society  and  appearance, 
the  laudable  ambition  to  lead,  the  dissatisfaction  which  prevails  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  in  the  breasts  of  our  workmen  at  the  misfortune 
of  their  lot  in  life,  the  temptation  of  so(;ial  and  political  preferment — 
these  and  other  considerations  frequently  culminate  in  politics,  laziness, 
or  crime.  It  absolutely  disqualifies  a  great  many  of  our  best  laborers 
for  usefulness  in  the  broader  and  nobler  fields  of  production. 

Notwithstanding  the  social  friction  produced  by  these  antagonistic 
and  conflicting  forces  agitating  the  majority  class,  the  Anglo-Saxon 
race  (so  called)  in  America  and  Australia  have  gradually  advanced  in 
material  and  political  prosperity. 

By  these  acts  of  orderly  progress  they  have  unveiled  to  the  world  a 
colossal  monument  unconsciously  erected  and  dedicated  to  the  inherent 
power  of  that  great  race  for  self-government,  and  it  has  no  contempo- 
rary on  earth. 

Those  Anglo-Saxons  who  settled  in  the  United  States  of  America 
are  even  prospering  to-day,  with  universal  education  among  the  masses, 
regardless  of  race  or  color;  unlimited  emigration  from  Europe,  and  an 
unrestricted  system  of  naturalization. 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO.  141 

With  these  euornious  economic  gaps  existing  between  the  twin  sister 
republics  of  the  western  hemispliere,  Mexico  is  not  behind  by  any  means; 
in  fact,  she  leads  all  others,  except,  perhaps,  Chili, 

One  mnst  visit  this  conntry  and  observe  its  nndeveloped  commercial, 
agricnltnral,  and  mineral  resources  in  order  to  fully  com[)rehend  the 
magnitude  of  the  calamity  which  befell  Mexico  when  Oortez  escaped 
from  the  battle  of  Otumba. 


GUADALAJARA. 
INDUSTRIES. 

In  size  and  commercial  importance  Guadalajara  stands  next  to  the 
national  capital.  It  has  15  tanneries,  1  glass  manufactory,  5  sugar 
factories,  while  nearly  every  hacienda  h;is  its  panuchc  pans ;  5  wax- 
match  factories,  6  cigarette  factories,  10  shoe  factories,  11  Hour  mills,  4 
cotton  factories,  7  soap  factories,  5  breweries,  21  places  where  mescal 
is  distilled,  4  hotels,  and  a  i)laza  de  torros  where  bull-fights  are  regularly 
held  every  Sunday  afternoon,  and  which  I  am  constrained  to  include 
among  its  prosperous  industries  from  the  attendance  noticed  last  Sun- 
day. 

The  manufacture  of  leather  is  eminently  successful ;  the  same  may 
be  said  of  i)ottery  and  all  agricultural  industries.  On  account  of  the 
altitude,  flour  of  a  very  good  quality  is  made  and  sent  to  all  the  coast 
districts,  the  nearest  competitor  being  the  State  of  Sonora. 

The  large  industry  of  Mexican  pottery  occupies  a  great  many  Indian 
laborers,  but  has  no  orgnnized  form,  every  hut  making  its  own  wares. 
Iron,  tin,  and  copper  cooking  utensils,  as  well  as  water-coolers,  bottles, 
&c.,  are  almost  entirely  unknown  in  ilomestic  life.  The  Indian  manufact- 
urer ])acks  his  pottery  into  wicker  crates,  about  2  feet  square  and  from  5 
to  {)  feet  long,  and  starts  to  diftereut  portions  of  the  country  on  foot 
with  the  crate  on  his  back.  I  have  seen  one  arrive  at  the  port  of  San 
Bias,  a  distance  of  over  230  miles,  dispose  of  his  articles  at  prices  vary- 
ng  from  1^  cents  to  li'^,  and  in  cases  of  large  pieces  as  high  as  18  cents 
per  piece.  The  aggregate  sales  of  his  cargo  will  not  exceed  812  or  $15, 
but  it  is  nearly  all  clear  gain,  there  being  very  little  expense  except  the 
wear  and  tear  of  sandals. 

The  image- makers  are  generally  of  a  more  elevated  grade,  although 
their  i)roducts  find  distribution  in  nearly  the  same  manner. 

All  the  skilled  labor  employed  in  the  industries  before  referred  to 
receive  generally  25,  31,  and  37i  cents  ])er  day,  Mexican  money,  when 
they  work.  The  wax-match  factories  employ  only  boys  and  girls,  who 
average  12^  and  15  cents  per  day.  The  large  cigarette  factory  of  Lucas 
Barron  employs  GOO  women  and  95  men.  I  happened  to  be  there  Avhen 
they  were  being  paid  otf,  and  found  that  it  was  all  i)iece  work,  the 
average  wage  per  day  being  about  30  cents. 

RATES   OF  WAGES. 

The  prices  ])aid  laborers  here  are  from  33.V  to  50  per  cent,  cheaper 
than  at  San  Bias  or  any  other  seaport.  This  is  owing  to  the  tropical 
climate  of  the  coast,  its  unhealthy  rainy  seasons,  and  expensive  travel- 
ing into  the  interior  every  time  that  season  returns.  The  altitude  and 
latitude  of  this  city  makes  it  the  perfection  of  climatic  excellence. 


142  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 

FOOD   PRICES. 

Xotwithstancling'  the  difference  in  wages  between  the  sea  coast  and 
the  table  lauds,  they  are  substantially  equal  in  effect,  for  the  reason  that 
the  purchasing'  power  of  a  dollar  here  is  equal  to  about  a  dollar  and  a 
half  on  the  coast.  For  example,  at  San  Bias  beef  and  pork  is  worth 
from  18  to  20  cents  per  pound  ;  sugar,  20  cents  ;  coffee,  25  cents ;  corn, 
from  2  to  3  cents  ;  beans,  from  2  to  3  cents ;  flour  is  little  used  among 
the  working  classes,  and  is  worth  froai  10  to  12  cents  per  pound,  while 
in  this  locality  beef  is  worth  from  12  to  15  cents ;  sugar,  15  cents  ;  coffee, 
16  cents  ;  corn  aiid  beans,  about  1^  cents  per  pound,  and  ffour  5h  cents. 

The  clothing  used-  b^^  the  laboring  classes  exclusively  is  heavy  un- 
bleached muslin,  and  a  serape,  while  sandals  and  a  broad-brimmed  straw 
hat  complete  the  outfit,  at  an  aggregate  outlay  of  $3. 


TEftUILA. 

This  place  is  noted  for  its  celebrated  distillations  from  a  peculiar 
branch  of  the  Aloe  americana,  which  grows  much  smaller  than  that 
branch  of  the  same  fsxmily  producing  imlquc. 

As  these  plants  are  only  ready  to  yield  their  valuable  saccharine 
product  once,  and  that  at  the  exceedingly  tardy  period  of  seven  years 
after  planting,  the  area  devoted  to  its  cultivation  must  necessarily  be 
large.  The  product  of  this  local  distillation  having  become  so  popular, 
the  beverage  is  called  after  the  name  of  the  town  where  it  is  made,  and 
not  vino  de  mezcal,  which  is  the  correct  name. 

The  price  of  labor  here  is  the  same,  but,  like  nearly  every  industry 
located  outside  of  city  limits,  there  are  hacienda  stores  everywhere,  and 
it  is  rarely  that  the  laboring  class  ever  get  out  of  debt. 

LABOR   IN  LOWER  CALIFORNIA  AND  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

This  country  is  beyond  question  the  Utopian  paradise  of  the  capital- 
ist, there  being  no  known  "  intelligent  masses"  here  to  menace  or  abridge 
the  "reasonable  demands"  of  corporations. 

However  imperfect  this  report  may  be  in  the  direction  of  furnishing 
comparative  statistical  data,  it  will  nevertheless  tend  to  show  to  my 
fellow-countrymen,  the  laboring  and  mechanical  classes  of  the  United 
States,  that  they  do  not  half  realize  the  exalted  itosition  they  hold  to- 
day as  compared  with  the  laboring  classes  of  their  near  neighbors. 

The  average  laborer  and  mechanic  of  this  country  scarcely  ever  has  a 
bed  or  pillow  to  sleep  on  ;  he  may  have  a  mat  and  serape,  and  that  is 
really  all  he  wants.  He  rarely  knows  the  toilet  uses  of  wash-bowl, 
towel,  or  soap,  and  is  equally  irnmindful  of  his  head.  He  may  be  for- 
tunate enougU,  if  luck  be  not  too  uncharitable  towards  him,  to  get  a 
suit  of  tanned  goat  skin,  costing  about  $6,  which  will  last  him  as  many 
years  with  pro])er  care.  His  daily  food  consists  of  tortillas,  beans,  and 
fruit.  He  has  by  law  every  civil,  political,  and  charitable  right  belonging 
to  the  best  citizen  of  this  Eepubiic,  but  his  conditions  are  incompatible 
with  the  exercise  thereof.  His  comparative  relation  to  the  employer  is 
about  equal  to  the  relations  enjoyed  between  the  New  York  bootblack 
and  the  Wall  street  banker. 

Strikes  are  comparatively  unknown ;  poverty  and  redundancy  of  pop- 
ulation   render  these  institutions  entirely  impracticable.     Therefore, 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 


143 


every  laborer  or  meobtuiic  who  can  squeeze  ont  a  living  in  the  United 
States,  even  in  this  age  of  commerce  and  competition,  vshould  never  per- 
mit the  ephemeral  si)irit  of  venture  nor  the  fictitious  legends  of  the 
Aztecs  to  turn  his  head,  unless  he  be  a  natural  faster  and  trained  to 
feats  of  eudarauce  on  foot. 

RATES   OF  WAGES. 

Following  are  the  daily  wages  paid  laborers,  reduced  to  American 
money,  at  87. o  for  the  Mexican  dollar. 

RICHAED  LAMBERT, 

C<msiil. 
United  States  Consulate, 

San  Bias,  May  26,  1884.  • 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  the  San  Bias  consular  district. 


Occupationa. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$0  43 

$1  30 

33 

43 

43 

1  30 

33 

43 

43 

1  30 

Average. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 


BVick  layers 

HotI  caiTiers 
Masons  

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Roofers 

Tenders 

Carpenters..    ... 


OTIIKU  TRADES. 


Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookhinde]  3 

Brickniakers  (tile) 

Butrhei  s 

Cabinet  ninkers 

Confectioners 

Cipar  makers  (piece-work entirely). 
Coopers 


Distilleis 

Drivers:  Draymen  and  team-sters,  cab,  carriage,  and  street  railways.. i< 


Dy( 

Engravor.s 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

Horse.shoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  ifcc 

Potters 

Printers ■ 

Teachers,  public  schools  ... 
Saddle  aud  harness  makers 

Tanners  

Tailors 

Telegi  aph  operators 

Tinsmitlxs 


33  I 
43 
33  I 
43 


43  I 

43  I 
18  : 
18  I 
30  I 
43  ! 
16  I 

43 ; 

43  j 

43 

30  I 

20 

33 

75 

43 

33 

33 

87 

33 


43 
1  30 

33 
1  30 


1  30 
1  30 

43 
1  30 

43 
1  00 
1  30 

43 


1  30 
30 

25 
20 
20 
62 
20 
33 
81 
81 
37 
43 
43 

1  75 
65 
43 
43 

1  30 
43 


$0  75 


75 
75 
33 
75 
43 
50 
75 
43 
43 
75 
30 
18 
18 
20 
43 
16 
33 
65 
65 
30 
30 
33 
1  75 
43 
33 
33 
87 
33 


The  foregoing  are  the  prices  paid  when  work  is  done.  It  is  well  enough  to  state  that  there  are 
thirteen  church  feast  days  in  this  country  every  year  to  be  celebrated.  During  that  time  these  day  la- 
burers,  from  religujus  devotion,  cannot  be  made  to  work.  The  feast  davs  are  exclusive  of  Sundays, 
Jind  sometimes  their  observance  occupies  more  than  a  single  day.  In  addition  to  this,  every  individ- 
ual in  this  country  has  liis  own  patron  saint's  day,  which  he  feels  called  upon  to  celebrate,  as  well  as 
those  of  his  family  and  friends,  when  the  employer  will  stand  it. 


144  labor  in  north  america:  mexico. 

11.  Factokies,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  2' er  week  of  seoentij-iwo  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Tepic  and  Santiago. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


"Weavers 

Spinuers  (men  and  boys). 
Carders 


Packers 

Mill  li.inds  generally  , 

Machinists 

Foiiudryiuen 

Blacksmiths , 

Sagar-mill  feeders 


The  superintendents  and  foremen  of  all  manufactories  are  either  Englishmen  or  Americans,  and 
they  receive  a  yearly  salary,  by  contract  entered  into  before  coming  here.  In  these  establi.shmeuts 
they  will  not  permit  this  promiscuous  system  of  absence  on  feast  days.  Three  national  holidays,  pa- 
tron-saints' days,  and  Cliristmas  week  are  allowed,  but  none  other.  Sunday  is  always  observed  as  a 
day  of  rest,  as  in  other  countrieis. 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  and  in  connection  ivith  silver  mines  near  Tepic  and 

Guadalajara. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Foreign  foremen 

$2  65 
50 
33 
25 

$4  37 
87 
65 
33 

$2  87 
65 

43 

3a 

The  superintendents  and  skilled  miners  are  paid  fair  salaries  by  contract.  Americans  have  been 
here  who  were  skilled  in  mining  in  the  Western  States,  but  having  no  prior  contract,  were  unable  to 
obtain  labor  at  all,  unless  accepting  the  native  prices. 

Vlll.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men)  in  the  port  of  San  Bias. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

A  verage. 

Captains 

$25  00 
10  00 
0  00 

$50  00 
20  00 
12  00 

$25  GO' 
12  00 

10  00 

Captains  also  get  a  percentage  on  the  delivery  of  their  cargoes  and  collection  of  freight  equal  to- 
about  2J  per  cent.  All  local  traffic  is  coasting.  There  is  no  foreign  aorvice  nor  deep-water  navigation 
on  the  coast,  so  far  as  I  can  ascertain. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sirentg-tivo  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  in  the  San 

Bias  consular  district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Clerks 

$3  40 
3  40 
11  00 

$9  00 

9  00 

15  00 

$5  00 

5  00 

12  00 

LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 


145 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  houtehold  servants  in  the  district  of  San  Blas,%Lith  board  and 

lodging. 


Occupations. 


■Waiters 

Cooks  (female) 

Hotel  cooks  (female) 

Chaiuberaiaids 

Porters 


owest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$6  00 
4  00 
8  00 
4  00 
6  00 

$15  00 
8  00 
15  00 
4  00 
8  00 

$8  00 
6  00 

12  00 
4  00 
6  00 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  agricultural  laborers  in  the  district  of  San  Bias. 


Oocapations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Farm  hands* 

$0  121 

$0  30 

90  10 

*  With  16  pounds  of  com  per  week. 

XII.  Corporation  employ:6s. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  Gueidalajara. 


Occupations. 

Highest. 

Occupations. 

Highest. 

Chief  of  police 

$216  33 
100  00 
60  00 
80  00 
100  00 
60  00 
40  00 

$100  CO 
60  00 
40  00 
30  00 
11  37 

Second  inspector  police 

Clerks  in  treasuiei's  office 

Chief  mounted  police    

Sec.retiij' to  chief  police   

Policeman  (dav) 

AsHistimt  secretary  to  chief  police 

Policeman  (night) 

15  00 

22  50 

This  city  is  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Jalisco  and  the  civil  power  is  supreme. 

The  to%vnsof  Sun  Bias,  Acaponeti,  S.uitiigo.  Navarretto,  Compostplla,  and  the  cityof  Tepic,  together 
with  thi<  iidjoinin;^  territory,  constitutu  the  military  district  of  Tepic,  althou>rh  belonging  to  the'stato 
of  Jalisco.  This  is  the  only  method  which  insures  peace  in  those  localities,  so  remote  from  the  seat  of 
state  government,  and  which  oven  defied  ihe  General  Government  for  twenty  years,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Lorado. 

In  ihe  ports  of  San  Bias  and  Santiago. 


Occupations. 


Sub-director  politico   

2  chiefs  of  police  (each) 

1  captain  of  day  police 

1  captain  of  ni;:ht  police 

5  day  police  (each)    

4  nijiht  poliee  (each) 

Mnnicipal  treasurer 

Muiiiiipal  clerk 

3  guards  at  citA  custom-house  (each)  . 
Clerk  to  municipal  j udge 


Highest. 


$66  66 

35  00 

20 

00 

18  00 

15  00 

18 

00 

50 

00 

30 

00 

25 

00 

30 

00 

Occupations. 


1  porter 

(!lcrk  to  municipal  council 

Ilos|iitaI  steward 

Pliysician   

I'oiter  to  hospital 

Cook  to  ho.npifal    

2  public  school  teachers  (each) 

1  health  otKcer 

2  street  cleaners  (each) 


Highest. 


$15  eo 

30  00 

40  00 

150  00 

8  00 

5  00 

50  00 

30  00 

15  00 


The  sub-director  politico  is  appointed  by  the  military  commander  at  Topic,  and  is  superior  to  the 
civil  authority. 
The  municipal  council  and  judirea  are  purely  honorary  and  receive  no  salary. 
The  foregoing  salaries  are  given  in  Mexican  money. 

92   A— 2   LAB- 10 


146 


LABOR    IN    NORTH   AMERICA:    MEXICO. 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 


Wages  paid  per  month  of  two  hundred  and  ten  hows  to  employes  in  Government  depart- 
ments and  offices — exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers  in  the  custom-house  at  San  Bias. 


Occupations. 


1  collector  of  cnatoma 

1  cashier 

1  treasurer 

1  appraiser 

4  clerks  (each) , 

1  commandant 

1  keeper  of  warehouse 

1  assistant 

2  chiefs  of  harbor  police  (each) 


Highest. 

.$291  66  i 

218  75  1 

145 

83 

175 

00 

51 

04 

182 

29 

131 

25 

109 

37 

109 

37 

Occupations. 


10  harbor  police  (each) . . 
2  captains  of  boat  (each) 

8  boatmen  (each) 

1  porter  to  cashier 

1  porter  in  custom-house 

1  captain  of  the  port 

1  captain  of  boat 

4  boatmen 


Highest. 


$65  62 
29  16 
20  41 
35  00 
17  50 
70  00 
29  16 
20  14 


The  captain  of  the  port  also  receives  $3.50  from  every  vessel  entering  the  harbor.  There  is  also  a 
pilot,  who  is  not  required  to  go  aboard,  but  receives  $1.75  per  foot  for  every  foreign  vessel  arriving 
also  $4  for  every  time  a  vessel  changes  her  anchorage.     These  salaries  are  reduced  to  American  money. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  day  of  twelce  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  4'0.,)  in  Guadalajara  and  Tepic. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Printers 

Pressmen... 
Apprentices 


37i 

43 

15 


$0  33 
33 
12 


Compositors  receive  from  33  to  43  cents  per  thousand     proof-readers  about 
ployed.    The  styles  of  printing  are  crude  and  unartistic. 


I  per  week,  when  em 


LA  PAZ. 


REPORT  BY  CON SVL  VIOSCA. 


I  have  the  houor  to  inform  the  Department  that  with  all  the  diligence 
within  my  power,  my  investigations  with  certain  class  of  laborers  and 
also  about  the  general  wages  paid  to  laborersin  the  different  trades  and 
industries  of  this  peninsula,  became  effective  ;  the  result  could  not  be 
attained  as  desired  or  expected,  on  account  of  the  exceptional  condition, 
practices,  habits,  customs,  and  the  entirely  primitive  state  of  every  in- 
dustry and  of  its  people  ;  as  to  the  practicability  to  give  an  answer  on 
each  of  the  subjects,  it  is  beyond  the  reach  of  any  human  being,  at  pres- 
ent, because  the  instability  of  every  leading  trade,  as  well  the  irregular- 
ities by  which  the  enterprises  are  managed,  the  depopulated  condition 
of  this  country,  and  the  long  and  slow  way  of  communicating  with  the 
interior  towns,  leave  no  way  or  chance  for  a  more  extensive  or  correct 
report  on  the  subject. 

I  liave  simply  filled  the  forms  alluded  to  in  the  circular  and  which 
are  here  inclosed,  knowing  that  it  is  not  conforming  with  the  manner 
explained  by  the  Dei)artment,  but  have  arbitrarily  filled  them  as  the 
circumstances  permit  it,  leaving  the  average  column  to  be  taken  as  tbe 
standard  of  wages  prevailing  in  this  country. 

JAS.  VIOSCA, 

(Jonsui. 

United  States  Consulate, 

La  Paz  June  7,  1884. 


LABOK    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  pel' toeek  of  ten  hours  in  La  Paz,  Lower  California. 


147 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 


Bi'icklavers 

Hod-carriers 
Masons 

Tenders 

Carpenters 


OTHER  TRADES. 


Baliers 

Blacksmiths  . 
Stiikers... 
Bookbinders  . 
Brick-makers  . 
Brt 


rewers. 


Bntcliers 

Drivers,  draymen,  and  teamsters 

Gardeners 

Laborers,  porters,  &c , 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  schools 

Sailmakers   

Stevedores 

Tailors  

Tinsmiths 


Lowest. 


$1  00 
63 

2  00 
50 

2  00 


75 


Highest.  Averag*. 


$1  50 
75 

2  50 
62 

2  50 


1  33 
1  75 
1  00 


75 


1  00 

1  00 
50 
50 
80 

2  00 
1  00 
1  50 
1  00 
1  75 


1  50 
1  33 
80 
67 
1  00 
3  33 
1  25 
1  50 

1  50 

2  00 


$1  25 
6» 

2  25 
58 

2  25 


1  00 
1  li 

87 


75 


1  25 

1  16) 
«5 
58i 
90 

2  66| 
1  12i 
1  50 
1  25 
1  87J 


Food  and  food  prices. — The  working  people  of  this  country  are  free  to  purchase  the  necessaries  of  lif« 
to  mit  their  own  convenience.  Their  daily  food  consisting  of  corn,  beans,  jerked  beef,  and  meat ! 
Cost  of  corn,  3  cents  per  pound ;  beans,  2i  cents  per  pound;  jerked  beef,  20  cents  per  pound;  meat 
(fresh),  10  cents  per  pound. 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  in  and  in  connection  with  the  Progreso  Company,    Valle  Perdido  Compantf, 
and  San  Jose  Island  Mines  in  Lower  California. 


Occupations. 


Superintendents per  year. 

Assay  ers do... 

Assayers' assistants do... 

Foremen do     . 

Ore  millers per  day. 

Engineers per  month. 

Machinists do  .. 

Drillers per  day. 

Minersi  inside  of  mine do 

Operators  in  the  furnaces do. . . 

Boys  employed  in  the  separation  and  cleansing  of  the  ores do. . . 

Common  laborers do... 


Lowest. 

Highest. 
$5,  000  00 

$4.  000  00 

2,  000  00 

2,  .500  00 

900  00 

900  00 

900  00 

900  00  1 

1  50 

1  50  1 

80  00 

100  00 

60  00 

80  00 

1  75 

2  50 

1  75 

2  50 

1  75 

2  00  I 

50 

75 

1  00 

1  00 

Average. 


$1  50 

90  00 

70  00 

2  12i 

2  12i 

1  87J 

62i 

1  00 


VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  per  day  often  hours  in  shijy-yards  in  La  Paz,  Lower  California. 


Occupations. 


"Wood  ship-building 

First  assistants 

Second  assistants . . . 


Lowest. 


$2  50 

1  00 

50 


Highest. 


$3  00 

1  50 

75 


Average. 


$2  75 

1  25 

62i 


Note. — Computation  for  average  wages  cannot  be  rated  here,  as  per  form  suggested  in  circular,  for 
it  would  not  be  exact  with  the  rules  for  labor  ;  rates  for  wages  customary  in  this  country,  as  wages  are 
generally  paid  by  month  or  day  iu  isolated  works. 


148 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — disUngimhing  between  odean,  coast, 
and  river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam,  in  La  Paz,  Lower  California. 


OccapatioDs. 


OCEAN  BAIL  NAVIGATION. 

Masters 

Mates 

Seunien 

Cooks 

COAST  SAILING  NAVI  4ATI0N. 

Masters 

Mates  

Seamen 

Cooks 

STEAM  COAST  NAVIGATION. 

Captains 

First  mates 

Secoud  mates 

Si'amon 

Chie  f  engineers 

Fiist  assistant  engineer 

Second  assistant  engineer 

Third  assistant  engineer 

Firem  en 


Lowest. 


$60  00 
30  00 
16  00 
25  00 


40  00 
20  00 
14  00 
18  00 


100  00 
60  00 
30  00 

20  no 

100  00 
60  00 
40  00 
40  00 
30  00 


Highest. 


$100  00 
50  00 
22  00 
25  00 


75  00 
30  00 
18  00 
20  00 


100  00 
70  00 
35  00 
20  00 

100  00 
80  00 
60  00 
60  00 
30  00 


Average. 


$80  00 
40  00 
19  00 
25  00 


57  50 
25  00 
16  00 
10  00 


100  00 
65  00 
32  50 
20  00 

100  00 
70  00 
50  00 
50  00 
30  00 


It  is  bevond  possibility  to  give  an  idea  of  the  wages  for  oil  and  pe^rl  fisheries,  around  the  bay  and 
adjacent  islands  ;  but  nien  employed  in  that  line  of  bu.siness  generally  work  under  contract ;  a  com- 
mon rule  taken  for  an  average  rate  makes  it  at  $0.31  per  week. 

IX.  Stoke  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in  La  Paz. 


Occapations. 


Bookeepers 

Clerks,  first  claas  . . 
Clerks,  Betond  class 
Clerks,  assistants  . . 


Lowest. 


$75  00 
40  00 
30  00 
20  00 


Highest. 


$125  00 
60  00 
50  00 
30  00 


Average. 


$100  00 
50  00 
40  00 
25  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month,  with  board  and  lodging,  to  household  servants  {toivns  and  cities)  in 

La  Paz,  Lower  California. 


Occupations. 


Female  cooks  . . . 

Male,  cooks  

Chambermaids  .. 
Maloseivants  . .. 
Female  servants 
Washwomen 


Lowest. 


$S  00 
12  00 
10  (0 
0  00 
4  00 
8  00 


H 

ighest. 

$10  00 

15  00 

10  00 

10  no 

6  OU 

10  OU 

Average. 


$9  00 
13  50 
10  00 

8  00 
5  00 

9  00 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO.  149 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wageapaid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Lower  California. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Male  servants* per  month . . 

Servants  employed  in  the  sugar  mills per  day.. 

Honsehold  male  servants* per  monln.. 

Household  female  servants* do 


$10  00 

50 

5  00 

4  00 


$14  00 

75 

8  00 

8  eo 


$12  00 
62^ 
6  50 
6  00 


*  With  hoard  and  lodging. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  employh  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers,  in  La  Paz,  Ijower  California. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$333  33J 

150  no 

80  00 
50  00 
50  00 
20  00 
100  00 
100  00 
80  00 
60  00 

$333  33i 

150  00 

80  00 

50  00 

50  00 

20  00 

100  00 

100  00 

80  00 

60  00 

$333  331 
150  00 

80  00 

50  00 

50  00 

20  09 

100  00 

100  00 

80  00 

Male  teachers  in  the  interior 

60  00 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  shoicing  the  ivages  paid  per  month  to  printers  (compositors,  pressvien,  proof-read- 
ers, 4'c.)  in  La  Paz,  Lower  California. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Printer! 

$25  00 
16  00 

$30  00 
20  00 

$27  50 
18  00 

Type-setters -- - -  - 

NUEVO  LEON. 

REPORT  BT  CONSUL  OAMPJSELL,  OF  MONTEREY. 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  notes  on  the  industries  and 
labor  of  the  State  of  Niievo  Leon  : 


principal  industries. 

The  principal  industries  of  this  State  are  cotton  factories,  flouring 
mills,  tanneries,  distilleries,  maim  factories  of  hats,  shoes,  blankets,  sad- 
dles, harness,  soap,  matches,  candles,  carriages,  wagons  and  ice;  also 
such  industries  as  tin  and  coppersmiths,  bookbinderies,  printing,  &c. 
The  above  manufactories  and  induNtries  furnish  employment  to  a  very- 
large  number  of  laborers,  both  male  and  female.  There  is  very  little 
machinery  used  in  the  different  shops,  and  that  of  the  most  antique 
style ;  nearly  all  the  work  being  done  by  hand. 


150  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 

RATES   OF  WAGES. 

The  rates  of  wages  paid  to  laborers  of  every  class,  mechauical,  miii- 
iDg,  factories,  public  works  and  railways,  domestic,  agricultural,  &c., 
are  exhibited  in  the  inclosed  tabular  statement. 

'     COST   OF   LIVING  AND   FOOD. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  is  about  the  same  as  that  in 
the  United  States,  though  their  food  is  of  a  different  kind.  The  la- 
borer here  lives  principally  on  beans  and  tortillos  (a  flat  cake  made  of 
a  coarse  corn-meal  ground  on  a  stone  with  the  hands)  and  a  small  quan- 
tity of  fresh  beef,  goat,  or  mutton.  They  could  not  afford  to  eat  bacon, 
as  it  is  50  cents  a  pound,  and  other  articles  commonly  used  by  laborers 
are  very  expensive  here. 

HABITS   OF   THE  WORKING  CLASSES. 

Thej'  are  steady  workers,  but  are  generally  eye-servants.  They  make 
it  a  rule  to  spend  all  they  make,  chiefly  for  good  clothing.  They  are 
very  proud  about  their  dress,  and  will  stint  themselves  of  food  in  order 
to  buy  a  $10  sombrero  and  a  good  suit  of  clothes.  They  are  generally 
temperate  in  their  habits.  The  feeling  existing  between  employ^  and 
emijloyer  is  good. 

STRIKES. 

Such  things  as  strikes  are  not  known  among  this  people. 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

No  restrictions  are  imposed  on  the  laborers  by  the  employers  as  to 
where  they  shall  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life.  They  are  j)aid  alto- 
gether in  silver,  as  they  are  afraid  of  any  other  kind  of  currency. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF    THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 

The  general  condition  of  the  working  people  is  good,  though  at  pres- 
ent tliej^  may  be  compelled  to  live  unusually  economically  on  account 
of  a  long-continued  drought  and  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  country. 
Their  houses  are  built  of  adobe  (sun-dried  brick),  covered  with  a  thatched 
roof,  neatly  whitewashed  on  the  inside,  and  are  generally  quite  neatly 
kept,  however  sparse  their  furniture.  They  are  not  of  large  frame,  but 
of  great  endurance  physically.  While  a  large  number  are  fond  of  mescal, 
a  spirituous  liquor,  yet  very  few  comparatively  are  addicted  to  intoxica- 
tion. The  wages  of  both  male  and  female  laborers  have  been  consider- 
ably increased  in  the  last  five  years,  caused  by  the  introduction  of  rail- 
roads and  other  American  enterprises.  The  wages  of  men  and  women 
do  not  conflict  with  each  other  except  perhaps  in  cotton  factories,  which 
of  course  tends  to  maintain  harmonious  and  kindly  relation  among  all 
concerned.  A  majority  of  the  women  can  read  and  write,  and  the  chil- 
dren are  being  educated  in  the  public  schools ;  the  education  of  the 
children  is,  however,  limited  to  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  and  geog- 
raphy. There  is  desire  on  their  part  to  increase  the  facilities  offered  by 
the  public  schools. 

KOBT.  C.  CAMPBELL, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Monterey,  Mexico,  May  1,  1884. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  2)er  tvetk  in  Monterey. 


151 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TKADES. 


Bricklayers  . 

Hod-carriers 
Masons 

Tenders , 

Plastorors , 

Tenders 

Roofers 

Tenders 

Carpenters 


OTHER  TRADES. 


Baki>r8 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookbinders  . . . 
Brick-makers  . . 

Butchers 

Brass-founders  . 
Cabinet-iiiakeis 
Confectioners  .. 
Cigar-makers . . . 
Coopers . 


Lowest. 


Distillers 

Uriver.s: 

Draymen  and  teamsters. 

(,\ib  and  carriage 

SI  reet  railways 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

Horseshoers 

Laborers,  porters,  &.c 

Lithogra)>hers  

Milhvrights    

Nailmakers  (hand) 

Potters 

Printers 

Teachers  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers.. 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

"Weavers  (outside  of  mills)  . . 


$6  00 
2  2S 
4  50 
1  .lO 
4  50 
1  50 
4  50 
1  50 
4  50 


3  00 
9  00 

4  50 

3  00 
G  00 

4  50 
9  00 
9  00 
3  00 

3  00 

4  50 
3  00 

3  50 
3  50 

5  00 
2  00 
G  00 
9  00 

2  00 
7  00 

6  00 

3  00 
3  00 
5  00 

10  00 
10  00 

2  50 

7  00 
12  50 

3  00 
3  00 


Highest. 


$12  00 

4  50 
12  00 

4  .=)0 
12  00 

4  50 
12  00 

4  50 
12  50 


9  00 

12  50 

9  00 

4  50 

9  00 

G  00 

12  50 

15  00 

6  00 
4' 50 

12  00 

4  50 

5  00 
5  00 

5  00 

3  00 

7  50 
12  50 

4  00 
10  00 

9  00 
4  50 
4  50 

8  00 
15  00 
12  00 

3  50 
10  00 
25  00 

4  00 

6  00 


Average. 


$10  00 

3  00 
10  00 

3  00 
10  00 

2  50 
10  00 

2  50 
10  00 


6  00 
10  00 

7  5Q 

3  50 

8  00 
5  00 

10  00 
12  00 

4  00 
3  50 

10  00 

3  50 

4  50 

4  50 

5  00 
2  50 

6  50 
10  00 


12  50 
10  00 
3  00 
8  00 
18  56 
3  50 
5  00 


MONTEREY   STREET   RAILWAY. 
Wages  paid,  ivithout  board. 


Occupations. 


Bookkeeper per  month . 

Yard  foreman do. . . 

Blacksmith do... 

Conductors do. .  . 

Drivers do... 

"VVatcInnan do. .. 

Ordinary  stable  hands do. .. 

Kolay  boys do . . . 

CONSTRUCTION. 

Foreman  of  track do... 

Track  hands per  day. 

Spikcrs do .". . 


Lowest, 


Average . 


$100  00       $100  00        $100  00 


50  00 
75  00 
20  00 
20  00 
25  00 
20  00 
10  00 


100  00 
50 
75 


152 


LABOK    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  in  factories  or  mills  in  and  near  Monterey. 
Occupations. 


Foreman 

Spirners 

Weavers 

Servants  

Females: 

Spinners  . 

Weavers 

Servants  . 

Others  ... 


Lowest, 

Highest. 

$8  PO 

$10  00 

4  00 

6  00 

6  00 

8  00 

4  00 

6  00 

4  00 

C  00 

6  00 

8  (JO 

2  00 

3  00 

6  00 

8  00 

Average. 


$9  Oft 
5  00 
7  00 
5  00 

5  00 
7  OO 
2  50 
7  00 


Board  in  factories,  $2.50  per  woek. 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  day  in  mines  in  the  State  of  Kuevo  Leon. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$0  50 
75 
50 

$1  00 

1  25 

75 

$0  75 

1  00 

62i 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  seventy-eight  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  and  retail,  to  males,  in  Mon- 
terey. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$5  00 
10  00 
12  50 
2  00 

$15  00 

20  00 

25  00 

3  00 

Average. 


Clerks  in  retail  stores 

Clerks  in  wholesale  stores 

Bookkeepers 

Porters 


$10  00 
15  00 
18  50 
2  50 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Monterey. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$8  00 

10  00 

10  00 

5  00 

4  00 
3  00 

$20  00 

20  00 

20  00 

8  00 

10  00 
5  00 

$12  00 

12  00 

12  00 

6  00 

Villaiies : 

8  00 

6  00 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  ivages  paid  per  week  to  printers  in  Monterey. 


Occupations. 


Job  pvinters 
Cbmpositors 
Pressmen 


Lowest. 


$5  00 
5  00 
4  00 


Highest.  I  Average. 


$20  00 
8  00 
7  00 


15  00 
7  00 
6  00 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO.  153 

XI.  Agricultural,  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laboi'ers  and  household  {couniry)  servants  in  State  of  Niievo  Leon. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Laborers :  * 

yield 

Dnriujr  harvest . .. 

Field  laborers  f 

Shepherds  

per  day.. 

do 

per  month.. 

do 

$0  37 

50 

5  00 

8  00 

4  00 

$0  50 
1  00 
8  00 

10  00 
8  00 

.$0  37 

75 

7  00 

9  00 

Househuld  servants. . . 

do.... 

6  00 

'  Without  board. 


tWith  two  bushels  of  corn. 


SONORA. 

REPORT  JIT  CONSUL  WILLARD,  OF  6UATMAS. 
SONORA,  ITS  PEOPLE   AND  INDUSTRIES. 

1  beff  leave  to  acknowledg^e  the  receipt  of  "Labor  Circular"  from  the 
Department,  date  of  February  15  last,  and  in  reply  would  state: 

That  in  this  consular  district  of  Guayinas,  which  embraces  the  State 
of  Sonora,  Mexico,  Ihe  largest  city,  Hermosillo,  contains  not  more  than 
12,000  people,  and  the  port  of  Guaymas  6,000  people.  Three  other 
towns,  Alamos,  Magdalena,  and  Altao,  containing  from  2,000  to  3,000 
population  each  ;  also  a  number  of  small  villages  and  pueblos  of  from 
100  to  500  inhabitants. 

The  entire  consular  district,  which  is  estimated  to  contain  an  area  of 
35,000  square  miles,  contains  less  than  120,000  people,  which  includes 
the  civilized  Indian  tribes,  estimated  to  be  onefitth  of  the  entire  popu- 
lation. There  are  no  manufacturing  establishments  in  the  State,  ex- 
cepting a  small  cotton  mill,  near  Hermosillo,  for  the  manufactun^  of 
unbleached  muslin,  which  is  idle  for  six  months  of  the  year,  the  pursuits 
of  the  people  being  contined  to  merchandising,  stock  rai.siug,  and  min- 
ing. The  status  of  this  consular  district  is  such  that  it  is  difficult  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  circular  as  to  the  information  sought  for. 

I  beg  leave,  also,  to  state  that  the  rates  given  are  more  applicable  to,  at 
or  near,  what  is  called  our  large  towns  or  cities.  In  the  small  towns  in  the 
interior  of  the  country  there  is  proportionately  a  cheaper  rate  paid  for 
all  classes  of  labor  than  mentioned  in  the  following  tables. 

RATES   OF  WAGES  AND   COST   OF  LIVING. 

I  herewith  inclose  rates  of  labor,  which  will  be  found  in  tables  an- 
nexed. The  cost  of  living  of  the  laboring  classes  varies  in  the  large 
towns  and  cities,  where  the  cost  is  full  30  i)er  cent,  higher  than  in  the 
interior  of  the  country,  and  varies  according  to  condition  irom  20  to 
60  cents  ])er  day,  while  skilled  labor,  clerks,  and  employes  vary  from  30 
cents  to  $1  per  day.  The  articles  of  food  consist  of  meat,  bre:id,coflee, 
sugar,  vegetables,  &c.,  a  List  of  which  is  hereto  annexed,  with  the  retail 
prices  in  our  towns. 

In  making  a  comparison  of  the  rates  of  labor  from  1S78  to  1884,  as 
regards  prices  ])aid  for  work,  it  can  be  estimated  at  30  pi'r  cent,  higher 
and  the  price  of  food,  &c.,  10  per  cent,  more  than  the  year  1878. 


154  LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  working  classes  as  a  rule  spend  wLat  they  acquire  almost  as  soon 
as  earned,  rarely  saving  money.  Their  wants  are  few  and  simple,  and 
they  appear  to  act  on  the  adage  of  "  sufficient  unto  the  day  are  the 
wants  thereof." 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  between  emploj6  and  employer  is  not  marked  by  the  an- 
tagonism which  exists  in  other  countries  more  populous  and  prosper- 
ous. There  are  no  labor  unions  or  organizations,  no  strikes  of  employes 
on  any  organized  scale,  and,  generally  speaking,  all  disputes  are  set- 
tled amicably,  without  reference  to  law. 

HOURS   OF  LABOR. 

A  day's  work  is  generally  considered  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  with  two 
hours'  intermission  at  noon.  This  applies  to  out-door  emplo^^inent.  In 
the  mines  they  usually  receive  task-work,  which  is,  as  a  rule,  estimated 
at  about  ten  hours  per  day.  The  laboring  classes  that  work  by  the  day 
or  week  are  ]iaid  in  silver  (coin).  Those  that  are  emi)loyed  by  the 
month  are  paid  according  to  contract  entered  into.  In  some  cases  one- 
half  or  one-third  is  paid  in  cash,  and  the  rest  in  provisions  and  merchan- 
dise. In  the  agricultural  districts  men  are  generally  employed  at  the  rate 
of  $8  i^er  month,  receiving  iu  addition  an  almud  (about  a  peck)  of  corn  or 
wheat  each  week.  Beef,  sugar,  and  other  articles  of  food  or  clothing, 
if  said  laborer  needs  them,  lie  must  purchase.  The  peon  system  in  this 
IDart  of  Mexico,  which  formerly  existed,  is  practically  null  and  void. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

The  laboring  classes,  as  a  general  rule,  have  few  political  rights  or 
do  not  care  to  exercise  them,  and  they  do  not  enter  into  the  political 
contest.    Their  votes  always,  as  a  rule,  go  with  that  of  their  employer. 

EMIGRATION. 

There  has  been  from  this  consular  district  before  the  commencement 
and  completion  of  work  on  the  Sonora  llailroad  a  considerable  emigra- 
tion to  Arizona  and  California,  as  wages  there  were  higher  and  the  dis- 
ordered condition  of  the  country  was  such  that  more  chances  of  bettering 
their  condition  and  obtaining  personal  security  was  presented.  Since 
the  completion  of  the  railroad  some  few  have  returned  as  price  of  wages 
have  increased  and  a  more  prosperous  condition  of  aflairs  throughout 
the  country  exists. 

RAILROADS  AND   REVOLUTION. 

With  the  advent  of  the  railroad  liave  ceased  revolution  and  civil  dis- 
turbances, and  the  laborer  to  day  is  not  liable  to  be  com])elled  to  do 
forced  military  duty,  as  was  the  case  formerly  in  the  constantly  recur- 
ring civil  disturbances  which  api)eared  at  one  time  to  be  the  normal 
condition  of  this  part  of  Mexico. 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 


155 


WOMEN  LABORERS. 

The  eiuploymeut  of  women  wlio  labor  iu  this  consular  district  is  al- 
most entirely  confined  to  household  duties,  such  as  housekeepers,  laund- 
resses, seamstresses,  teachers,  musical  instructresses,  cigarette- makers 
(small  cigars),  cooks,  shop-keepers,  &c.  The  average  rate  i)aid  per  day 
for  such  emi)loyment,  including  board  and  lodging,  ranges  from  20  cents 
to  81  per  day. 

FOREIGN  LABORERS  IN   SONORA. 

The  foreign  labor,  as  it  exists  in  this  consular  district  to-day,  is  con- 
fined almost  exclasively  to  skilled  artisans  in  different  branches  of  trade. 
In  Sonora  there  are  56  Chinamen,  50  of  whom  are  engaged  exclusivelj'' 
in  the  manufacture  of  shoes  and  boots  and  the  others  as  cooks  at  hotels 
or  mining  establishmeuts. 

I  hope  that  this  incomplete  report  may  serve  to  give  an  idea  of  labor 
as  it  exists  to-day  in  this  part  of  the  northwestern  portion  of  Mexico. 

A.  WILLAED 

C07lSlll. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Guaymas^  June  12,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

JVages  paid  pel'  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  Guaj/mas. 


Bakers 

Blacksmiths  . .. 

strikers 

Bookbinders  . . . 
Brickmakers... 

Butchers 

Cabinet-IB  a  ker 
Confectioners.. 
Cijrar-niakers  .. 
Drivers 


Occupation.s. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

GENERAL  TRADES. 

$15  00 
6  00  1 
12  00  1 
4  50  1 

12  00  1 
4  50  ' 

13  50  1 

$18  00 
7  50 

18  00 
6  00 

18  00 
6  00 

27  00 

$16  25 

6  60 

14  40 

5  10 

14  40 

5  10 

Carpenters 

18  90 

OTHER  TRADES. 


bb*i  Draj-men  and  teamsters 

Cab,  carriage,  and  street  railway. 

Gardeners 

Hatters .• 


Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  (tc. 
Printers  


Teachers,  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sail  makers 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths , 


10  50 

9  00 

4  50 

6  00 

7  50 

6  00 

12  00 

6  00 

4  50 

12  00 

15  00 

18  00 

4  50 

6  00 

6  00 

3  50 

6  00 

12  00 

7  50 

6  00 

7  50 

16  00 

6  00 

15  00 

12  30 

13  50 

10  80 

6  00 

5  10 

8  00 

6  80 

15  00 

8  00 

6  80 

15  00 

13  20 

9  00 

7  20 

8  00 

5  80 

16  00 

13  60 

20  00 

17  00 

30  00 

22  80 

6  OS 

5  10 

7  50 

6  GO 

10  00 

7  60 

6  00 

4  50 

7  50 

6  60 

20  00 

15  20 

10  00 

8  50 

8  00 

6  SO 

12  00 

9  30 

18  00 

16  80 

8  00 

6  80 

156 


LABOR   IN   NORTH    AMERICA  :    MEXICO. 


VI.  Railway  employ:6s. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  railway  employes  (those  engaged  ahout  stations,  as  well  as  those  en- 
gaged on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  ^c.)  in  Sonora,  1884. 


Occtipations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Ayerage. 

Conductors 

$4  25 
3  00 
6  00 

3  50 

4  00 
2  50 
2  50 
2  00 

2  50 

3  00 
1  00 

1  50 

2  50 

1  75 

3  75 
3  00 

2  50 

3  00 

1  00 

2  50 

$4  25 

3  00 
6  00 

4  00 
4  00 

4  50 

5  00 

4  25 

5  00 
3  00 

2  00 

1  75 

3  00 

2  00 

4  25 

4  00 

3  50 

5  00 
1  50 
3  00 

$4  25 
3  00 

Engineers,  locomotive 

6  00 

3  70 

4  00 

3  10 

3  50 

Telegraph  operators 

2  90 

Clerks  

3  50 

Section  foremen .   .     .   . 

3  00 

Laborers ..   . 

1  40 

Track-walkers ... 

1  60 

Baggage-masters ... 

2  70 

Engine-cleaners 

1  85 

Car- builders 

3  95 

Carpenters 

3  40 

2  90 

Civil  engineers ..     .   . 

3  80 

1  20 

Painters 

2  70 

VII.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  and  in  connection  with  gold,  silver,  and  copper  mines  in 

Sonora,  Mexico,  1884. 


Occnpations. 


Foreinan 

Aesaver 

Bookkeeper  . 

Miners 

Engineers  ... 
Mill  hands... 
Blacksmiths. 
Carp^ters . . 
Storekeepers 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$1  50 

$2  00 

1  50 

2  00 

1  00 

1  50 

2  00 

4  00 

3  50 

4  00 

2  50 

4  00 

2  00 

6  00 

2  50 

6  00 

75 

1  25 

$1  70 
1  70 

1  20 

2  80 

3  70 
3  10, 
3  60 
3  00 

95 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men)  in  the  port  of  Guaymas,  Mexico,  1884. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Captains .,,   .     .                _   .. 

$30  00 
20  00 
12  00 
10  00 

$60  00 
35  00 
18  00 
IG  00 

$42  00 

26  00 

14  40 

12  40 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  phid  per  month,  Guaymas,  Mexico,  stores,  wholesale  and  retail,  to  males  and  females^ 

1884. 


Oecnpations. 


Bnolclieepers 

Clerks. 

Porters  

Famale  clerks  in  shops 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$40  00 

15  00 

16  00 
8  00 

$150  00 
45  00 
20  00 
12  80 

Average. 


$84  00 

27  00 

17  60 

9  60 


LABOR  IN  NORTH  AMERICA:  MEXICO.  157 

_X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants,  towns  and  cities,  in  Sonora,  Mexico,  1884. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Cooks ...... ..... 

$6  00 

4  00 
3  00 
8  00 

5  00 

$15  00 
16  00 

8  00 
12  00 

8  00 

$9  60 
8  80 

Washera  and  ironei  a 

5  00 

9  60 

6  20 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  Sonora, 

Mexico. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Avenge. 

Foreman  of  ranch  work 

$20  00 

6  00 

10  00 

6  00 

$40  00 
8  00 
15  00 
8  00 

$28  00 
6  80 

Laliorers 

Herders  (vaquoros) 

12  00 

Cooket 

6  60 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  the  corporation  employe's  in  the  city  of  Guayma^, 

Sonora. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$15  00 

$25  00 

5  00 

7  50 

12  50 

15  00 

25  00 

31  25 

6  25 

7  50 

5  00 

6  25 

2  50 

3  75 

20  00 

25  00 

12  50 

15  00 

0  25 

7  50 

2  00 

3  00 

2  00 

2  00 

10  00 

25  00 

10  00 

15  00 

15  00 

15  00 

Average. 


O  ity  secretary 

clerks 

Surveyor 

Assessor 

Collector 

Jailer 

Assistant  jailer 

Treasurer 

Captain  police 

Policeinon 

Cartmcn 

Indian  crovornors 

Sc'liool  te.ichers,  male  . . 
School  teachers,  female 
City  physician 


$19  00 

6  00 

13  50 

27  50 

6  75 

5  60 
3  00 

22  00 
13  50 

6  75 
2  40 
2  00 

16  00 
12  00 
15  00 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 


statement  shoiving  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  tfc.)  in  Sonora,  Mexico. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Foremen 

$10  50 
9  00 
9  00 
4  50 

$15  00 

12  00 

13  50 
7  50 

$12  50 

10  20 

10  HO 

5  70 

Type  setters 

Assistants 

158 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 


A  general  average  of  values  at  retail  of  provisions,  rent,  clotMng,  cfc,  in  Sonora,  Mexico. 

18ri4. 


Articles. 


Flonr per  pound. 

Sugar : 

White do. . . 

Brown.  do... 

Coflfee do . . . 

Tea do... 

Beans do... 

Corn do... 

Lard do. . . 

Meat: 

Fresh do. . . 

Dried do . . . 

Dried  peas do. .- 


Articles. 


Vinegar per  gallon. 

Milk do... 

Bread .per  pouad. 

Fish do. . . 

Oysters ..per  gallon. 

Vegetable per  pound . 

Water per  gallon. 

Potatoes per  pound. 

Rent per  month. 

Calico per  yard. 

Mantu  cotton  cloth do... 

Shoes per  pair. 


Value. 


60 
70 
5 
3 

2i 
3| 
k 
6 
4  00 
20 
18 
1  75 


MATAMOROS. 

REPORT  BT  OONSTJL-QENERAL  SUTTON. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  Matamoros. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons    

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Roofers 

Tenders 

Carpenters 

OTHEK  TltADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookbinders 

Brick  makers 

Brewers 

Butchers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Drivers : 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab  and  carriage 

Street  railways 

Gardeners 

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &(5 

Printers  

Teachers  public  schools 

Saddle  and  hanieas  makers 

Tailors       

Tinsmiths 


$9  00 
3  00 

9  oe 

3  00 
6  00 
3  00 
9  00 
3  00 
9  00 


6  00 
6  00 
4  50 
6  00 
4  50 
4  50 
4  00 
4  00 
4  50 

2  50 

2  50 

3  00 
3  00 
9  00 
G  00 
e  00 
6  00 

6  00 
G  00 

7  50 
7  50 


$15  00 

3  00 
18  00 

6  00 
12  00 

4  50 
12  00 

4  50 
18  00 


15  00 
9  00 

4  50 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 

5  00 
10  00 

6  00 

5  00 
5  00 

3  00 

4  50 
12  00 
12  00 

9  00 
12  00 
25  00 

9  00 
18  00 

9  00 


$12  00' 

3  00 
12  00 

4  00 
9  00 
4  00 

10  OO 
4  00 
12  00 


9  CO- 
8  00 
4  50 

7  00 
6  00 
6  00 

4  50 

6  00 

5  0» 

3  00 
3  00 

3  OO 

4  00 
10  00 

8  00 

7  50 

9  00 
10  00 

7  CO 
9  fO 

8  0« 


LABOR    IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 
VI.   B,AILWAY   EMPLOY]6s. 


159 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  raiUcaij  emploi/^  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  i^c.)  in  Malamoros, 


OccDpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

160  00 

$85  00 

$60  00 
50  00 

75  00 

40  00 

75  00 

46  00 



20  00 

20  00 
75  00 

30  0« 
83  00 

27  50 

80  00 

Warehousemen 

30  00 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Waqes  paid  per  loeek  of  eighty  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in 

Matamoros. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Bookkeepers 

$7  50 
12  50 

10  00 
3  00 
1  25 

$25  00 
30  00 

29  00 
7  00 
7  50 

$15  00 
''5  00 

Salesmen  : 

Better  sort 

15  00 

Small  shops 

5  00 

Boya 

5  00 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wagespaid per  month  to  household  servants  (toivns  and  cities)  in  Matamoros. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Cooks : 

Men , 

$6  00 
4  00 

6  00 
3  00 

3  eo 

$25  00 

$10  00 

10  00              7  00 

House  servants : 

Men  

30  00             12  00 

15  00  1            8  UO 

Nurses 

15  00            R  on 

XI.  Agricultural  wages.* 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Mata- 
moros, Mexico,  with  or  without  boardand  lodging. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Farm  laborers 

$5  60 

$15  00 

$12  CO 

'An  allowance  of  com,  and  occasionally  other  .supplie.s,  and  houses,  are  generally  added. 


160 


LABOR   IN    NORTH    AMERICA:    MEXICO. 


XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours,  more  or  less,  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of 

Matamoros,  Mexico. 


Occupationa. 


Secretary  

"Writers 

Porter 

Keeper  of  the  clock 

Treasurer   '- 

Book  keeper 

Weigher    

Guards  at  gates 

Alcalde 

Diiectorof  hospital 

Administrator 

Druggist 

Chief  nurse* 

Nurses" 

Cook* 

Grinder* 

Chief  of  police 

First  assistant 

Mounted  jiolice 

Foot  police 

Night  police 

Scavengers 

Hide  and  cattle  inspector. 


Lowest.    Highest 


$7  50 


20  00 


12  00 

8  00 


4  00 

5  00 
5  00 


$12  00 


30  00 


25  00 
12  00 


6  00 

7  50 

8  00 


Average. 

$20  00 

10  00 

5  00 

5  00 
25  00 
15  00 
20  00 
10  00 

7  50 
15  00 

8  00 

6  00 

6  00 

3  50 

4  00 
2  75 

15  00 

7  50 
7  50 

5  00 

6  00 
6  00 
6  00 


*  And  food. 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  two  hundred  hours,  more  or  less,  to  employes  in  government  depart- 
ments and  offices,  exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers,  in  Matamoros,  Mexico. 


Occupations. 


Collector  of  castoms  — 

Auditor 

Chief  clerk    

Second  clerk 

Vista 

Writers 

Chief  of  guards 

Second  chief  of  guards 

Guards  

Federal  district  judge. . 

Secietarv  to  couit 

Pnl)lic  prosecutor 

Postmaster   

Feder.il  fiscal  agent 

Auditor 


Division  superintendent. 

Manager 

Operators 

Book  keeper 

Clerk   

Translator 

Governor 

Secretary 

Privale  secretary  

Clerks  and  writers 

Dl^putiea 

Chief  clerks 

Writers,  &.c 


TELEGEAPH. 


SUPREME  COURT. 


Magistrates • 

Treasurer 

Secretary  

W  riters.  &c   

Defender  of  poor 

Judges  of  ihe  first  instance 

Defender  of  poor 

AV  Titers    ■ 

Treasurer 

Auditor 

Bookkeepers,  writers,  &c  ... 

Puidic  printer 

Director 


Lowest. 


$40  00 


30  00 
20  66 


30  00 


Highest.   Average. 


$60  00 


75  00 

'45  66 


70  00 


$300  00 
200  00 
125  00 
100  00 
125  00 

6U  00 
150  00 
125  00 

50  00 
300  00 
120  00 
200  00 

80  00 
200  00 
125  00 

125  00 

108  00 

70  00 

60  00 

50  00 

25  00 

300  00 

200  00 

100  00 

50  00 

100  00 

100  00 

30  00 

1.50  00 
150  00 
100  00 
50  00 
80  00 
125  00 
30  00 
30  00 
2(10  00 
100  00 
50  00 
100  00 
40  00 


LABOR    IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 


161 


Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (composito-rs,  pre^ismm, 
proof-readers,  <f-c.)  in  Matamoros,  Mexico. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest 

Highest. 

Average. 

$20  00 
10  00 

$55  00 
34  00 

$30  00 
M  00 

BRITISH  HONDURAS. 

REPORT  BT  CONSUL  MORLAX,  OF  BELIZE. 
RATES  OF  WAGES. 

I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  herewith  a  statement  of  the  condition  of 
the  laborers  of  the  colony  of  British  Honduras. 

The  report  is  as  exact  as  is  possible  when  the  large  extent  of  the  col- 
ony is  considered,  and  the  fact  that  the  greater  part  of  the  ])opulation 
is  employed  in  wood  cutting — mahogany  and  logwood — and  various 
agricultural  i)ursuits. 

The  position  of  the  laborers  in  general  may  be  said  to  be  a  happy  one, 
their  wants  being  fewand  easilyandcheaplysupplied.  There  are  no  beg- 
gars among  the  natives  of  the  colony,  and,  nnles*s  caused  by  sickness, 
there  is  no  want.  Xo  general  value  can  be  placed  on  the  cost  of  living 
here,  as  the  average  laborer  can  live  on  next  to  nothing;  most  of  them 
live  on  the  rations  furnished  by  their  employers,  and  have  no  additional 
exi)eiise,  except  for  clothing,  which  is  of  the  cheapest  and  most  i)rimi- 
tive  kind.  These  people  could  always  manage  to  save  something,  but 
they  seldom  do  so.  They  are  generally  a  happy-go  lucky  set,  and  wheu 
they  are  paid  off  at  the  end  of  the  year  the  money  soon  vanishes — often 
for  some  very  trifling  thing.  They  are  not,  as  a  rule,  given  to  drunk- 
enness, although  most  of  them  drink  more  or  less  rum  during  the  year. 
The  statements  are  prejjared  in  the  order  of  the  interrogatories. 

COST   OF   LIVING. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  laborers  live  in  their  own  houses  and  upon 
their  own  lands  or  lots.  There  is  a  portion,  however,  who  have  to  pay 
rent.  Buildings  or  rooms  to  let  have  become  more  and  more  scarce  of 
late  years,  and  prices  are  on  the  rise,  as  there  is  an  actual  lack  of  as 
many  as  are  wanted.  Strangers  coming  to  Belize  find  no  abiding 
places,  except  at  hotels  or  in  private  families  ;  and  the  latter  who  care 
to  entertain  are  also  few. 

People  (;an  live  here  in  almost  any  kind  of  a  house  when  driven  to  it 
by  circu.iistances,  as  there  is  no  cold  weather  the  year  round,  and  no 
pressing  need  of  warm  or  protected  rooms.  Small  houses  of  from  three 
to  four  rooms  no  ground  floors  cost  from  $4  to  87  per  month,  although 
some  cheap  affairs  rent  as  low  as  $2.o0  and  $3  per  month. 

The  sanitary  condition  of  habitable  ihvellings  generally  is  good,  and 
tolerable  ones,  when  procurable  at  all,  rent  at  from  $10  to  $25  per' 
month.     Working  i)eo])le  rarely  pay  more  than  $5  to  $7  per  month. 
Most  of  the  tenements  are  built  on  large  lots  which  have  a  yard  in  com- 
92  A— 2  LAB 11 


162 


LABOR    IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 


inon  with  a  number  of  small  houses,  varying  in  price  from  $2  to  $6 
per  month  each. 

Prices  paid  for  clothing  are  about  the  same  as  in  the  United  States,  the 
material  being  usually  a  little  cheaper,  but  the  making  quality  consid- 
ered higher.  In  the  way  of  ready-made  clothing,  boots,  shoes,  &c.,  prices 
are  a  little  higher.  It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  very  little 
clothing  is  needed  by  the  laboring  classes,  one  or  two  garments  being 
all  that  is  needed  by  the  common  laborers  the  year  round.  Their  chil- 
dren are  generally  fully  dressed  with  a  hat  and  a  cheap  cotton  slip 
reaching  to  the  knees.  The  tradesmen  and  mechanics  dress  pretty 
much  the  same  as  those  of  the  United  States,  with  the  difference  that 
their  clothing  is  not  so  heavy. 

Fires  are  necessary  only  for  cooking,  and  wood  is  pretty  expensive, 
a  stick  of  wood  a  yard  long  and  about  the  thickness  of  3  to  4  iuclies 
costing  one-hall  to  three-fourths  of  a  cent. 

Plantains,  yams,  and  coco  (a  kind  of  potato)  form  a  large  part  of 
the  food  of  the  laborers ;  fish  also  are  very  cheap  and  abundant  and 
form  a  part  of  the  daily  fare  to  laborers  in  the  country,  either  on  jjlanta- 
tions  or  wood  cuttings.  Eations  of  4  pounds  of  pork  and  7  quarts  of 
flour  are  given  each  man  per  week. 

There  is  an  abundance  of  all  kinds  of  English  and  American  canned 
goods,  such  as  biscuits,  pickles,  fruits,  vegetables,  &c.  In  the  follow- 
ing list  is  given  the  average  general  retail  prices  of  food  and  some  nec- 
essary household  articles  procurable  at  the  markets  and  provision  shops. 
The  values  given  are  American  money,  the  standard  here  being  the 
Mexican  dollar,  which  is  at  a  discount  of  10  to  15  per  cent. 

FOOD   PRICES. 

Prices  of  provisions  are  as  follows  : 


Articles. 


Fresh : 

Bt-ef per  pound . . 

Pork  do  - . 

Muttou do 

Veal do... 

Sea  flsh do 

Sea  turtle do 

River  turtle do  .. 

Shellfish    do 

Salted  sea  flah do 

American  mess  pork  ..do 

American  bacon do. . . . 

American  bams  do 

American  salted  beef,  .do 

Fresh  ejigs per  dozen . 

Chickens each.. 

Venison  and  game  meats,  per 
pound 

Dacks - each . . 

Pigeons per  pair . . 

Geese per  pound . . 

Turkeys each . 

Lard : 

JJative per  pound.. 

American   do  ... 

Condensed  milk. pound  tins.. 

Chocolate per  pound. . 

Cacao : 

Imported do 

Native do 

Tea do.... 

Cofl'ee,  Guatemala    ..   .do 

Sugar: 

Native do 

Imported  cut  loaf  .do 


Lowest 
price. 


Highest 
price. 


03 
09 

03 

03 

11 

16J 

22 

16J 

33 

33 

11 
44 
33 


75 
16J 


16^ 
33 

22 
33 
75 
16J 

5.i 
16i 


Articles. 


Lowest    Highest 
price.     !    price. 


.$0  16^ 
.16i 
33 
22 
05^ 
11 
22 
05J 
04 
15 
29.J 
33 
22 
44 
55 

22 
66 
44 
22 
1  50 

22 
22 

27 
50 

27 

45 

1  25 

22 

•09 


Cheese,  American  per  pound. 
Dried  apples,  plums,  cur- 
rants, &.C per  pound . . 

Sago,  tapioca,  &.c do 

Starch  : 

Native  do 

American do 

Soap,  English  and  American, 

per  pound 

Candles,  English  and  Ameri- 
can   per  pound . . 

Wheat  flour do 

Corn-meal do 

Oatmeal,  Scotch do 

Corn  shelled per  quart. . 

Rice,  nativeandimported,.per 

quart 

Beans : 

Native per  quart. . 

American do. .. . 

String per  pound.. 

Peas,  American do 

Barley,  pearl     do 

Tomatoes,  fresh do 

Potatoes : 

American do 

Native,  sweet do 

Onions : 

Native do ... . 

American do 

Garlic : 

American do 

Native do.  ... 

Cabbages do 

Tamarinds do 


.$0  27 
22 

$0  33 

16i 
10 

33 

11 

10 

16^ 

04 
02 
11 

07 
03 

02 
10 

05 

11 

10 

$0  18} 

16* 

07 
11 

11 

02 

05 

11 

16i 
22 

m 

05i 
03 


16i 
22 


05} 


LABOR    IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 


163 


Food  prices — Coiitimu'(L 


Articles. 


Bread: 

Bakers' per  pou  ud . . 

Pilot do  .. 

Codfish,  Americau  ..   .do 

Oranges   per  dozen.. 

Aguacates  (alligator  pears), 

per  dozen 

OuioBS  and  radishes,  spring, 

per  dozen 

Plantains per  dozen . . 

Bananas do 

Cocoanuts,  fresh do 

Melons  and  pumpkins  each.. 

Fruits  * 

Dates, flg3,nnts,  &c.  per  pound 

Kerosene  oil per  gallon. . 

Honey,  native  fresh  .per  quart 


Lowest 
price. 


Articles. 


Vinegar per  qnart.. 

Beer : 

American do 

English   do 

Rnm.  native do 

Matclu'S,  (Jerman  and  Ameri- 
can   per  dozen . . 

Cigars,  native  and  imported, 

each 

Tobacco per  pound.. 

Gunpowder do 

Firewood per  100  sticks. . 

Charcoal per  barrel.. 

Shoes: 

Men's per  pair.. 

Women's do 

Moccasins do 


'Wild  are  cheap  and  abundant. 


Lowest 
price. 


$0  11 


02 
22 
41 
50 
75 

1  00 
1  25 
1  00 


Hghest 
price. 

$0  22 


44 


87 


4  00 

3  50 
2  50 


Crockery,  glass  and  table  ware  are  rather  cheaper  than  in  the  United  States, 
stoves,  and  kitchen  utensils  are  dearer. 


Household  furniture 


WAGES  PAST  AND   PRESENT. 

As  I  have  not  seen  the  circnlar  or  the  reports  that  were  made  at  that- 
time,  I  cannot  make  an  exact  statement  of  the  difference  in  prices  paid 
for  hibor  between  then  and  now,  but  there  has  been  a  general  advance 
of  wages  of  all  kinds  of  labor,  more  i)articularly  the  agricnltnral  de- 
I)artment,  caused  principally  by  the  increased  demaLd  for  fruit-planting 
purposes.     The  general  increase  has  been  about  30  i)er  cent. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

Tlie  working  classes  here  are  usually  steady,  but  they  are  not,  as'a 
rule,  given  to  saving.  Most  of  them  go  out  of  town  to  work  and  are 
liired  by  contract,  part  of  their  wages  being  paid  in  advance  and  the 
remainder  at  the  end  of  the  time  contracted  for.  Their  money  soon  dis- 
appears, being  used  in  buying  clothing,  luxuries  in  the  way  of  eating, 
drinking,  carriage-riding,  &c.,  and  they  then  hire  for  another  year. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER   AND   EMPLOY^. 

The  feeling  which  prevails  between  employer  and  employe  is  generally 
kindly,  and  I  think  has  a  beneficial  effect  on  the  prosperity  of  the  colony. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS   AND   STRIKES. 

The  laborers  of  this  colony  have  no  trade  or  other  organizaftions,  and 
consequently  no  strikes. 


FOOD   PURCHASES   AND   COOPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

Tlie  laws  of  the  colony  provide  that  no  contract  can  be  made  to  pay 
the  laborer  otherwise  than  with  the  legal  coin  of  the  country,  which 
may  be  said  to  have  the  Mexican  or  Spanish  dollar  (silver)  as  the  stand- 
ard. They  are  usually  paid  off  and  their  accounts  settled  at  the  end  of 
the  year. 

There  are  no  co  operative  societies. 


164         LABOR   IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF  THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 

The  general  conditiou  of  the  working  i)eople  of  this  colony  is  pretty 
fair,  as  their  wants  are  few.  The  climate  being  mild  they  are  not  under 
the  necessity  of  buying  heavy  clothing,  strong  food,  or  having  their 
houses  wanned  by  fires.  Some  of  them  live  in  old  sheds  that  in  the  United 
States  would  not  be  considered  fit  for  stables.  A  large  share  of  them 
in  jail,  w  ho  only  spend  a  few  days  or  weeks  in  town  during  the  winter, 
do  not  trouble  themselves  about  houses,  but  sleep  under  the  market 
sheds,  awnings  of  business  houses,  trees,  &c.  Those  who  are  indus- 
trious and  saving  have  every  facility  for  saving  (the  Government  pro- 
viding a  savings  bank  and  paying  interest  on  their  deposits)  and  provid- 
ing themselves  with  homes  for  their  old  age.  The  morals  of  most  of 
them — having  been  slaves — are  not  good  from  the  American  stand- 
point, but  are  improving.  Previous  to  the  year  1880  the  larger  part  of 
the  births  were  illegitimate,  but  they  are  now  all  taken  with  the  idea 
for  getting  married.  It  is  a  common  sight  to  see  people  who  have  lived 
together  for  years,  and  have  grown  up  families,  getting  married  and 
having  a  grand  time  at  the  wedding. 

The  larger  part  of  the  population  is  composed  of  negroes  and  their 
descendants  intermixed  with  all  nationalities,  and  they  very  much  re- 
semble their  brethren  in  the  Southern  States  of  our  own  Union. 

SAFETY   OF  EMPLOYES. 

There  are  no  factories,  mines,  railroads,  &c.,  in  the  colony,  and  there- 
fore no  provisions  need  be  made  for  accidents  such  as  are  common  in 
the  manufacturing  countries.  The  Government,  however,  provides  a 
public  hosi)ital,  in  which  charges  are  made  for  those  who  are  able  to  pay, 
while  those  who  are  indigent  receive  treatment  and  medicine  gratis. 
There  are  also  asylums  for  the  insane,  blind,  &c. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS, 

This  being  a  Crown  colony,  the  iieople  are  governed  by  ofiicers  ap- 
pointed by  the  colonial  office  in  England,  and  have  no  voice  in  the  mat- 
ter. They  are  not  directly  taxed,  as  the  revenue  on  the  goods  imported 
into  the  colony,  together  with  the  tax  on  spirits,  licenses,  and  a  light 
tax  on  property,  pay  the  expenses  of  the  colony.  The  tariff  on  im- 
portations is  for  revenue  only,  and  averages  about  10  per  cent,  ad 
valorem. 

The  Government  is  paternal  in  its  management,  and  several  laws 
have  been  lately  passed  iirotecting  the  laborers. 

EMIGRATION. 

There  is  no  regulai-  emigration  from  the  colony. 
Part  II. — Female  Labor. 

WOMEN   AND    CHILDREN   EMPLOYED. 

There  is  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  exact  number  of  women  em- 
ployed as  teachers,  dressmakers,  or  saleswomen,  which  occn])ations, 
with  the  exception  of  domestic  servants,  laundresses,  &c.,  are  the  only 
emi)l()yments  offered  to  women  in  the  colony.  The  number  of  domes- 
tic servants  in  the  colony  in  the  year  1881  was  813. 


LABOR    IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 


165 


FEMALE   WAGES. 


The  mininiuiu,  maxiiimm,  and  average  wages  paid  to  female  adults 
approximate  as  follows,  viz  : 


Dressmakers  and  laundresses  usually  work  piece-work  and  make 
about  the  same  wages  as  saleswomen.  Cooks,  house  servants,  and 
nurses  get  their  food  in  addition  to  the  above  wages,  but  are  not  usu- 
ally provided  with  lodgings.  Almost  all  of  the  house  servants  come  to 
the  house  in  the  morning,  and,  after  attending  to  the  morning  work 
(cooking  and  serving  breakfast,  house-cleaning,  wasliing,  &c.),  go  home 
until  time  to  prepare  the  dinner,  about  2  to  3  o'clock,  after  which  time 
(6  to  8  o'clock)  they  are  free. 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL  CONDITION   OF  FEMALE  EMPLOY:6s. 

The  morals  of  the  domestic  servants  of  the  colony  are  not  of  a  high 
order,  very  few  of  them  being  married,  but  almost  all  of  them  having 
one  or  more  children.  Their  ph^^sical  condition  is  pretty  good,  although 
they  are  much  given  to  complaining  of  their  health,  strength,  &c. 

SAFETY    AND   CARE  OF   FEMALE  EMPLOYES. 

No  provisions  are  made  by  employers  for  the  improvement,  safety,  or 
sickness  of  their  female  employes  in  the  colony,  the  Government  pro- 
viding schools,  asylums,  and  hospitals. 

FEMALE   WAGES,   PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

There  has  been  an  increase  in  the  wages  of  female  labor  of  all  kinds, 
amounting  to  about  15  to  20  per  cent.  House  rents  have  also  increased, 
but  provisions  and  other  articles  usually  kept  by  the  stores  and  shops 
have  slightly  decreased  in  price. 

FEMALE  EDUCATION. 

The  education  of  the  women  of  the  colony  is  pretty  fair,  most  of  them 
being  able  to  read  and  write,  which  is  about  all  they  ever  have  use  for. 
Almost  all  the  children  attend  the  schools,  which  are  sectarian  and  re- 
ceive Government  aid  according  to  the  number  of  pupils  they  have. 

PROPOSED    IMMIGRATION  FROM   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  add  that,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  labor  in  gen- 
eral in  the  colony,  a  project  is  on  foot  for  the  introduction  of  plantation 
labor  from  the  United  States,  it  having  been  stated  by  a  labor  agent  of 
New  Orleans  that  although  laborers  from  the  United  States  would  have 
to  be  paid  more  i)er  diem,  it  would  be  cheaper  to  the  employers,  as  the 
laborer  from  the  United  States,  being  more  intelligent  and  industrious, 
would  accomplish  two  or  three  times  as  much  work  as  the  native  laborer 
used  at  the  present  time. 


166 


LABOR    IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 


Almost  all  labor  in  the  way  of  wood-cuttiug  and  plantation  work  is 
done  by  tasks,  and  the  laborer,  if  industrious,  usually  completes  bis  task 
in  from  five  to  seven  hours,  having  the  remainder  of  the  time  to  rest 
and  amuse  himself. 

ALBERT  E.  MORLAN, 

Confiul. 
United  States  Consulate. 

Belize,  May  30,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  loeek  of  fifty-four  hours  in  Belize,  British  Honduras. 


Occupations. 


Bricklayers 

P"    ,Ho<i  caniers 

Masons 

^     Tenders 

Slaters  

Roofers 

Carpenters 

Bakers 


Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Butchers    

Assistants  . . 

Cabinet-raakers 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 


Draymen 

Carriage  drivers 

Oardeners 

Laborers,  porters,  <fcc 

Millwrights 

Printers . 


Teachers  of  public  schools : 

Male 

Female 

Sail-makers 

Stevedores 

Lightennen 

Tailois 


Tinsmiths 

Agricultural  laborers 
Female  adults  work . . 

Painters 

rishermen 


MISCELLANEOUS.* 


Teachers : 

Male 

Female 

Editors 

Book-keepers 

Chemists  (dispensing) . 
Collectors 


Lowest.     Highest.   Average. 


$4  80 


$10  20 
5  40 
10  20 
5  40 
9  60 
9  60 
9  60 

8  40 

9  60 
5  40 
8  40 


4  10 

10  20 

6  30 

9  60 

6  90 

8  40 

12  60 

6  30 

9  60 

14  85 
Mi  net 

24  00 

12  00 ; 

80  00  I 
40  00  I 


6  80  i 
10  20  I 
12  00 

8  60  I 
10  65  ! 

8  40  i 

3  65 

4  20 

9  60  ' 
6  50 


44  50 
25  00 


$7  20 
5  40 

7  20 

5  40 

6  90 
6  90 
6  90 
6  60 
6  90 

5  40 

6  60 

3  90 
6  40 

4  20 
6  90 

5  10 

6  40 
9  10 
3  40 
9  50 

8  50 

9  00 

5  40 
9  00 

10  00 

7  65 

6  40 
5  90 

2  85 

3  60 

7  20 

4  00 


38  00 
22  50 
80  00 
85  00 
60  00 
45  00 


*  Per  month. 

Vll.  Shipyards  and  shipbuilding. 

Wages  paid  per  loeek  of  fifty-four  hours  in  ship-yards — wood  ship -building — in  Belize,  British 

Honduras. 


Occupations. 


Carpenters  . . 
Iron  workers 

Painters 

Sail  makers  . 


Lowest. 

1 
Highest.  1 

$4  50 
4  50 
3  80 
6  40 

$9  60 
9  60 
9  60 

10  20 

Average. 


$6  90 

6  90 

7  20 

9  oe 


LABOR    IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 


167 


Wagen  paid  ptr  month  with  board  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  between 
ocean,  coast,  and  river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam — in  Belize,  British  Hon- 
duras. 


Occupations. 


Coast  captains  (sail) 

Coast  mates  (sail)  

First-class  coast  seamen  (sail)... 
Secondclass  coast  seamen  (sail). 

Ocean  seamen  

Fishermen  (with  rations) : 

Captains 

Men 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average. 


$26  00 

18  50 

11  90 

9  52 

20  10 

15  40 
8  90 


$55  50 
26  50 

13  50 
10  80 
30  80 

24  00 

14  48 


$38  80 
20  50 
12  75 
10  00 
23  00 

22  50 
12  80 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty  four  hours  in  dry  goods  and  grocery  stores,  wholesale  or  retail, 
to  males  and  females,  in  Belize,  British  Honduras. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest 

Average. 

Commercial  clerks : 
Male 

$7  00 
3  00 
3  50 
3  00 

$25  00 
7  CO 
9  40 
7  00 

$16  00 
5  00 

5  00 

5  00 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  nwnth  ivith  board  to  household  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  Belize,  British 

Honduras. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.  lAverag^. 


Females : 

Cooks  

Domestics 

Nurses 

Males : 

(Carib)  errands. 

Porters 

Footmen 

Coachmen 


$3  40  '. 

$5 

10 

$4  25 

2  00 

7 

10  , 

4  25 

2  40 

6 

10 

5  60 

1  90  i 

7 

10 

4  25 

8  40  1 

10 

90  1 

8  40 

12 

00 

10  00 

15  00  ' 

26  00  : 

20  00 

XI.  Agricultural  and  wood-cutting  wages. 

Wages  2>aid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  hounehold  (country)  servants  in  British 
Honduras,  without  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 

Lowest.    Highest. 

Average. 

Frnit  plantations : 

$13  20         $14  60 
6  50  {          8  40 

14  50           16  20 
6  50             8  40 

$14  40 

7  20 

Sugar  plantations : 

Males 

15  20 

Females  

7  20 

Other  farm  laborers  (male). 
Mahogany  cutters . . 
Mahof:anj-  raftmen. 
Logwood  cutters  ... 
Logwood  boatmen  . 
Wood  cutters : 

Foremen 

Clerks 


10  00 
15  10 

9  40 
14  .50 

8  90 


15  00 

16  M 
12  60 
16  50 
10  80 


11  70 
15  65 
10  60 

15  65 
9  60 

16  50 
18  40 


168  LABOR    IN    CENTRAL    AMERICA:    BRITISH    HONDURAS. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers,  in  British  Honduras. 


Occupations. 


Hours 
per  day. 


Lieutenant  governors 

Private  secretaries  to  above 

Colonial  secretaries 

First  clerk  to  same  

Second  clerk  to  same 

Colonial  treasurers 

First  clerk  to  same 

Second  clerk  to  same 

Surveyor-general 

Clerk  to  same 

Colonel  engineer 

Clerk  to  same 

Chiefjustice 

Chief  police  (inspector)  . . . . 

Sergeants  (inspector) 

Corporals  (inspector) 

Constables: 

First  class 

Second  class 

Third  class 

Revenue  officers 

Prison  superintendent 

Turnkeys  

Matrons 

Overseers 

Lighthouse  keepers 

District  magistrates  

Interpreters  and  clerks 

Attendants  and  messengers. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


$675  00 


$7  00 
20  00 
24  00 
15  00 


Average. 


44  00 
200  00 
50  00 
24  00 


$675  00 
88  00 

212  00 
80  00 
70  00 

206  00 

112  00 
70  00 

140  00 
30  00 

200  00 
46  00 

375  00 

128  00 
36  00 
32  00 

27  00 
23  00 

18  00 
45  00 
85  00 
39  00 
20  00 
20  00 
30  OO 

120  00 
38  00 

19  00 


XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  week  of  fifty-four  hours  to  the  trades  and  laborers  in  Government  employ 

in  British  Honduras. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$10  20 
10  20 
5  40 

5  40 
9  60 
9  60 
9  60 
9  60 

6  90 
12  60 
14  85 

3  05 

4  20 
4  60 
9  60 

$10  20 
10  20 

5  40 

5  40 

Roofers 

9  60 

Carpenters 

9  60 

Blacksmiths 

9  60 

Coopers 

9  60 

Draymen 

6  90 

Gardeners  

12  60 

Printers 

$5  95 

2  55 

3  05 
3  10 
6  90 

9  50 

Agricultural  laborers 

2  8i 

Female  laborers 

3  00 

Male  porters,  &c 

4  20 

Painters 

9  eo 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-four  hours  to  printers  (compositors' 
pressmen,  proof-readers,  ^c. ),  in  British  Honduras. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

News  compositors 

$6  30 

$10  00 

$9  00 

Pressmen  (hand) ..   .. 

6  00 

Book  work  (law) 

14  85 
14  85 

12  00 

Job  work  (plain) 

9  00 

12  00 

SOUTH     AMERICA. 


u:n^ited  states  of  Colombia. 

BARRANaUILLA. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  DAWSON. 
DIFFICULTY   OF   SECURING  STATISTICS. 

I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  Labor  Circular  of 
February  15,  1884,  and  in  reply  to  the  same  I  beg  respectfully  to  call 
your  attention  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  such  information  accurately 
iu  this  country,  where  there  are  no  statistics  or  organizations  to  aid  one. 
Consequently  the  facts  presented  have  been  obtained  after  many  per- 
sonal applications  to  those  in  authority,  who  finally  consented  to  their 
use.  This  has  naturally  consumed  much  time  in  the  preparation.  I 
will  now  consider  your  questions  iu  their  order. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  the  consular  district  of  BarranquiUa,  United  States  of 

Colombia. 


Occupations. 


BUILDDIG  TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

Hoa-caniera 

Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Slaters  

Hoofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants 

Carpenters 

Oas-fitturs 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmit  hs 

St  rikers 

Book-l)inder8 

Brickmakers 

Bntchers 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cl^ar-makers 

Distillers 

Drivers : 

General 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab,  carriage,  &c 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$3  34 

$9  66 

$7  74 

1  92 

4  84 

3  90 

3  84 

9  66 

7  74 

1  92 

4  84 

3  90 

3  84 

9  66 

7  74 

1  92 

4  84 

3  90 

5  62 

12  06 

7  74 

5  62 

12  06 

7  74 

1  92 

4  86 

3  90 

12  06 

24  18 

14  52 

4  84 

9  72 

7  74 

5  92 

12  06 

7  74 

12  06 

24  18 

14  32 

3  84 

7  74 

4  84 

3  84 

12  00 

9  60 

1  92 

4  84 

4  84 

4  84 

5  92 

4  84 

1  92 

9  66 

4  84 

1  92 

3  81 

3  84 

5  92 

14  52 

7  74 

1  92 

7  74 

4  84 

1  92 

4  84 

4  84 

1  92 

4  84 

3  84 

1  92 

7  74 

3  84 

1  92 

4  84 

3  84 

1  92 

7  74 

4  84 

1G9 


170     LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA. 
Wages  paid  per  week  in  the  consular  district  of  JiarranquiUa — Coutinued. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.     Highest.   Average. 


Otiieu  trades— Contimied.  | 

Gardeners j  $1  92 

Hatters '  1  92 

Horse-.sboers '  3  84 

Jewelers 5  92 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 1  92 

Nail-makers  (hand) 3  84 

Potters   •. .    1  92 

Printers 3  84 

Teachers  (public  schools) 7  74 

Saddle  and  harness  makers i  4  84 

Stevedores 4  84 

Tanners  j  4  84 

Tailors 3  84 

Telegraph  operators   3  84 

Tinsmiths  (outside  of  mills) !  3  84 


.$7  74 
7  74 
12  06 
12  06 

4  84 
12  06 

9  66 

5  92 
30  22 

7  74 
7  74 
9  66 
9  66 
20  15 
9  66 


$3  84 
3  84 
9  66 
9  66 

3  84 
9  66 

4  84 

4  84 
12  09 

5  92 
5  92 
5  92 

4  84 
12  09 

5  92 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  the  United  States  of  Colombia, 
Barranquilla  consular  district. 


Occapationa. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Soap  and  candle  factory : 

$4  03 
12  09 

3  22 
1  92 

4  03 
12  09 

1  92 

4  03 

12  09 

1  92 

4  03 

12  09 

1  92 

4  03 
3  84 

12  09 

20  15 

7  74 

1  92 

$12  09 
20  15 

4  03 

5  92 

9  66 

20  15 

3  84 

12  09 

20  15 

3  84 

12  09 

20  15 

3  84 

24  18 
7  74 

12  09 

20  15 

7  74 

1  92 

$7  74 
12  09 

3  22 

3  84 

Saw-mills : 

7  74 

12  09 

2  90 

Cotton  ginning : 

7  74 

12  09 

2  90 

Sugar-mills : 

7  74 

12  09 

2  90 

Tannery : 

12  09 

4  84 

Match  factory  :  * 

12  09 

20  15 

7  74 

Errand  boy 

1  92 

*  Only  one  of  these. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages    paid  per  week  of  sixty   hours  in  foundries,    machine-shops,  and  iro)i  works,    in 
Barranquilla  consular  district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Railroad  shops  : 

■     

$30  22 

16  12 

12  09 

12  09 

6  04 

$30  22 

16  12 

12  09 

Blacksmiths 

12  09 

Helpers 

6  04 

LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA.     171 

IV".  Glass- WORKERS. 


There  are  no  fjlass  workers  in  the  country, 
started  near  Bogota,  but  did  not  succeed. 


A  glass  manufactory  was 


V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Waget  (laid  per  day  or  week  of  fiixti/  houra  in  and  in  connection  with  the  gold  placer  mines 
in  Barranquilla  consular  district,  United  States  of  Colombia. 


Occupations. 


Foreman $30  22  !  $30  22 

Engineers  I  24  18  '  24  18 

Laborers,  washers t  4  84  I  7  74 

Clerks i  16  12  |  16  12 

There  are  a  few  mines  working  in  this  consular  district.     These  are  gohl  placer,  and  are  worked 
very  simply.    They  are  exploring  for  copper,  co  il,  petroleum,  and  aaphaltum. 


VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  railway  emplo;ies  in  Barranquilla  consular  district. 


Occupations . 


Average 
wages. 


Managers 

Cashier 

Assi-stant  cashier 

Clerks 

Ticket  agents 

Telegrai)l»  operators . . 

Storekeeper 

Assistant  storekeeper 

Check  clerks 

Master  mechanic  

Conductor 

Engine  driver 


$201  50 
80  00 
40  30 
32  24 
56  42 
36  27 
80  60 
48  36 
40  30 
120  90 
64  48 
48  36 


Occupations. 


Foreman  of  shop 

Master  carpenter 

Road  foreman 

Linemen 

Switchmen 

Track  boss  . 

Captiiin  of  tugboats  .. 
Engineer  of  tug  boats 

Seamen  * 

Pilots' 

Bargemen*  

Porter 


Average 
wages . 


$64  48 
64  48 
32  24 
32  24 

24  18 
32  24 
80  60 
80  60 
20  95 
32  24 

25  79 
16  12 


'  Put  with  railway  employ6s,  as  they  work  under  the  control  of  the  railway  company. 


VII.  Ship-yards  and  SHip-BUiLDma. 


There  are  no  ship -yards  established  here. 

The  river  steamers  are  built  abroad  and  erected  here  under  the  man- 
agement of  foreigners  sent  out  with  tlie  material.  Flat-boats,  canoes, 
and  bungoes  are  built  and  all  classes  of  vessels  are  repaired  by  house 
carpenters.    If  any  modeling  is  to  be  done,  plans  must  come  from  abroad. 


172      LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF   COLOMBIA. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  in  Barranquilla  consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average. 


Steamers,  river  : 

Captains 

Pilots 

Pursers 

Engineers 

Second  engineers . 

Mates 

Firemen 

Stewards 

Superintendents  . 

Agents* 

Steamers,  ocean  : 

Captain 

Engineer 

Seamen 


$48  36 

64  48 

32  24 

72  54 

48  36 

16  12 

12  09 

16  12 

161  20 

$241  80 

120  90 

48  36 

120  90 

64  48 

40  30 

16  12 

32  24 

403  00 


$120  90 
80  60 
48  36 
120  90 
48  36 
24  18 
12  09 
24  18 


Pilots  . 


Bargemen 

Canoe-men  and  bargemen : 

Pilots 

Canoe-men 


06 


24  18  I 
7  68  I 


80  60 
80  60 
20  95 
32  24 
25  79 

80  60 
24  18 


32  24 


■  Five  per  cent,  commission  of  the  freight  receipts. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 


Wages  paid  per  month  of  three  hundred  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  and  retail,  to  males  and 
females,  in  Barranquilla  consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Corresponding  clerk $24  18 

Bookkeepers 24  18 

Salesra  en i  6  48 

Apprentices 1  *  03 

Errand  boy 4  03 

Storage  * 

*One-half  per  cent,  commission. 

Many  of  the  retail  stores  are  attended  by  the  members  of  the  family,  and  consequently  no  salaries 
are  paid. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Barranquilla  consular  dis- 
trict. . 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Averajte. 

$7  24 
2  42 

7  24 
4  84 

12  09 

8  06 

$16  12 
9  67 
16  12 
16  12 
16  12 
24  18 

$12  09 

4  84 

12  09 

Waiters 

8  06 

12  09 

16  12 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Barran- 
quilla consular  district,  with  hoard. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.  I  Highest. 


$4  84 

$20  15 

4  84 

20  15 

4  84 

20  15 

n     1 

8  oe 

'  Board. 


LA.BOS    I.V    SOUTH     AMERICA:     UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA.      173 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

fVages  paid  per  month  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Barranquilla,  United  States 

of  Colombia. 


Occupations. 

1  Wagea. 

s 

Occupations. 

Wages. 

(Jovemor 

$120  90 

120  90 

1         56  42 

80  fiO 

1  Policemen  . 
Servants... 

$12  09 

Id&yor 

4  84 

161  20 

Interpreter 

46  36 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  three  hundred  hours  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and 
offices,  exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers,  in  Barranquilla  consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Pay. 


AEMY.*  j 

General  (army*) $201  50 

Colonel I  141  05 

Lieutenant-colonel 100  75 

Major '  80  60 

Captain 65  49 

Lieutenant j  50  37 

Ensi^in 40  30 

Private :  12  09 


Occupations. 


CUSTOM-HOUSE 

Collector 

Assistant 

Storekeeper 

■Weighmaster 

Clerks 

Captain  of  the  port 

Interpreter  

Guardsmen 

Inspectors  

Laborers  


Pay. 


$201  50 

120  90 

48  36 

72  54 

32  24 

80  60 

48  36 

20  15 

120  90 

24  18 

*  In  time  of  war  all  officers  receive  three  times  this  amount  of  pay. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statt'ment  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  j3/T8smert, 
proof-readers,  Jj-c.)  in  Barranquilla  consular  district. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Editors 

$8  06 

6  45 

81 

$40  30 

Printers 

16  12 

2  42 

COST   OF  living. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  varies  greatly  in  this  consu- 
lar district;  and  it  may  be  well  to  refer  to  m^'  report  on  "  Labor  in  Co- 
lombia," printed  in  the  United  States  Consular  lleports,  No.  34,  October, 
1883.  It  is  perfectly  safe  to  say  the  cost  of  living  to  the  work-people 
here  is  equal  to  their  wages. 

WAGES  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 

The  rates  of  wages  have  not  changed  since  1878. 

HABITS   OF   THE  WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  working  classes  are  steady  and  trustworthy  for  a  time,  but  owing 
to  the  facility  with  which  their  necessities  are  supplied,  they  are  not  as 
much  disposed  to  laborious  industry  as  they  might  be.     Tiieir  vices  are 
-those  attendant  upon  drinking.    They  do  not  save. 


174    LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA. 
FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOY:^   AND   EMPLOYER. 

As  this  is  a  free  country,  employer  and  employe  affiliate  freely,  and 
the  eft'ect  is  a  general  interest  in  any  subject  affecting  the  community, 
and  the  educational  standing  is  thereby  increased.  Much  can  be  accom- 
plished by  appealing  to  their  citizenship  which  would  otherwise  remain 
undone. 

ORGANIZED    CONDITION    OF   LABOR. 

There  is  no  organized  condition  of  labor  or  capital.  All  business  is 
conducted  in  accordance  with  the  local  conditions  which  surround  cap- 
ital or  labor,  and  vary  in  detail  as  the  localities  vary.  While  the  laws 
authorize  the  governor  to  bind  men  to  work  as  per  any  agreement 
which  may  be  made  before  him,  yet  few,  if  any,  of  the  authorities  would 
aid  in  compelling  men  to  carry  out  their  contract  should  they  see  fit  to 
break  it. 

PREVALENCY   OF   STRIKES. 

Strikes  are  unknown  here.  Most  disagreements  are  settled  by  arbi- 
tration. 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

The  working  people  are  free  to  purchase  what  and  where  they  please. 
They  would  resent  any  other  treatment.  They  are  paid  every  Saturday 
night  in  silver  or  bank  bills.  It  is  sometimes  customary  to  give  each 
workman  20  cents  per  day  to  buy  the  day's  provisions. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

These  societies  are  unknown  here. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING  PEOPLE. 

The  homes  of  the  working  classes  do  not  vary  greatly,  excepting  those 
in  the  larger  cities  who  may  belong  to  a  better  class  than  those  in  the 
small  towns  or  country.  In  the  country  a  man  can  locate  his  house  in 
the  woods  without  fear  of  disturbance,  erect  the  same  in  one  day  from 
the  wild  growth  surrounding  him,  and  soon  have  a  clearing  made  upon 
which  he  can  grow  three  crops  of  corn  in  a  year.  He  must  not  plant 
more  than  his  children  can  protect,  however,  from  the  wild  parrots  and 
animals,  whicli  like  cultivated  food.  The  plantain  and  banana  produce 
within  eight  months  from  the  seed,  and  thereafter,  without  nuich  care, 
yield  a  continual  harvest.  The  yam  and  yuca,  a  species  of  potato,  yield 
quickly  and  are  very  hardy.  Sugar-cane  once  planted  is  always  pres- 
ent. With  these  productions  growing  around  him,  and  the  river  near 
to  supply  him  with  fish,  the  native  is  happy,  depending  for  his  meat 
upon  the  wild  animals  he  can  kill  with  spears  made  from  the  lance- wood 
of  the  country,  or  which  he  can  entrap  with  the  variety  of  contrivances 
he  has  the  faculty  of  making.  His  only  necessity  for  money  is  to  pro- 
vide salt,  rum,  tobacco, clothes,  and  the  machete,  a  long  knife  which  he 
uses  for  every  purpose,  from  picking  his  teeth  to  cultivating  his  lands. 
The  money  is  gained  by  work  for  some  richer  neighbor ;  by  cutting 
wood  for  the  river  steamers  ;  by  catching  and  drying  fish  for  the  city 
markets,  or  by  cultivating  the  ground  in  excess  of  his  own  require- 
ments. Fruits  grow  very  abundantly.  By  planting  the  necessary  trees 
the  native  secures  his  marketing  very  easily,  if  living  near  a  large  city. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTir    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA.      175 

The  iminber  of  uiticles  which  he  obtains,  the  purchase  of  which  requires 
money,  depends  in  a  great  nunisure  on  the  facility  for  securiiio-  remuner- 
ative work  and  tlie  energy  of  the  man.  The  salt  for  the  food  of  the 
family  amounts  to  very  little,  and  becomes  an  im[)ortant  factor  only, 
when  tishing  or  hunting,  to  niake  the  results  of  his  labor  available  for 
the  market.  The  rum  of  the  country  varies  from  the  Chicha,  which  is 
merely  fermented  cane-juice,  to  the  distilled  liquor.  As  taken  by  the 
poorer  people,  the  liquor  is  colorless  and  cheap.  The  tax  imposed  by 
the  municipal  authorities  varies  from  $1  to  $3  per  demijohn.  Tobacco 
is  grown  in  certain  sections  of  the  country,  and  as  men,  women,  and 
children  generally  use  it,  this  article  has  become  a  necessity,  and  money 
goes  for  this  as  long  as  any  remains.  The  clothing  of  these  families 
amounts  to  very  little,  as  the  children  usually  go  without  any  until  they 
attain  an  age  at  which  they  are  self-sustaining  j  and  as  neither  hat, 
shoes,  nor  stockings  are  required,  this  expense  is  saved.  If  any  wish 
these  articles,  they  make  them  from  the  fibers  of  the  trees  and  plants 
near  them.  The  men  wear  hats,  shirts,  pantaloons,  and  shoes;  the  hat 
is  plaited  from  the  reeds  of  the  swamps;  the  shoes  are  cut  from  the 
tanned  hide  of  any  animal  they  may  kill,  domestic  or  wild,  pig  or  alli- 
gator. This  shoe  is  simply  a  piece  of  the  leather  cut  more  or  less  ac- 
cording to  the  shape  of  the  sole  of  the  foot,  and  fastened  on  by  strings. 
The  clothes  are  made  of  coarse  cotton  or  linen  goods.  Two  suits  will 
last  a  man  a  year.  The  actual  cash  required  to  supply  this  family  one 
year  would  be  about  as  follows:  Actual  necessities,  $S;  rum  and  to- 
bacco, $10.40.  There  are  many  of  this  class  in  the  country.  In  Barran- 
quilla  a  laboring  man  can  get  board  for  $6.20  per  month. 

Laborers  in  the  city  and  on  cattle  ranches  eat  the  most  meat.  They 
will  have  meat  daily,  if  possible,  or  at  least  three  times  a  week,  and 
house  servants  expect  it  twice  a  day.  Salt  fish  is,  however,  the  main 
support,  and  as  the  city  laborer  must  purchase  everything,  he  is  better 
paid,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  statement : 

A  BARRANQUILLA  MASON'S  STATEMENT. 

I  am  t  hirty  years  old.  I  am  a  mason.  I  have  a  wife  and  six  childreu,  the  oldest  ten 
years  aud  the  youngest  one  month  old.  I  receive  $1.61  per  day.  The  average  wage* 
paid  to  masons  is  $l.'it)  per  day.  I  have  work  about  two-thirds  of  the  time.  I  begin 
worlcat  (i  o'clock  in  tlx-  moriiingand  quit  at  a  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  have  one 
hour  for  breakfast  at  10  o'clock  in  the  forenoon.  Supper  comes  after  the  day's  work 
is  done.  My  wife  does  not  earn  anything  in  addition  to  my  earnings.  With  general 
good  health  I  can  earn  about  $3d(J  per  year.     I  pay  per  annum  as  follows  : 


Items.                            i  Cost.                                    Items. 

1 

Cost. 

$8  60 
15  00 

For  water,  Vironslit  on  donkeys'  l)acks,  ati 

10  cents  a  Ina.l 1      29  92 

,  For  repair  to  tool.s,  &c 

For  tobacco,  rum,  sweets,  &c 

36  50 
9  37 

i-or  I'ood,  alxmt !     116  80 

!             Total 

380  DO 

For  doctor's  bills,  as  per  last  year 12  09 

My  family  and  myself  have  coftoe  and  corn  bread.  The  latter  is  made  out  of  corn 
pounded  tine,  mixed  with  water  and  salt,  wrapped  in  a  corn  husk,  and  boiled.  For 
breakfast  we  have  dried  tish,  plantain  and  yam,  yuca  and  beans  boiled  together  into 
a  "sancoche"  (a  soup) ;  for  dessert,  melons,  mangoes,  bananas,  or  other  fruits.  For 
dinner  we  have  a  meat  "  sancoche,"  Sometimes  we  have  bread  ;  always  collee,  or 
a  drink  made  by  dissolving  the  native  sugar  in  water,  called  guarapo.  It  is  difficult 
to  save  anything  with  my  family,  and  the»very  little  that  is  saved  is  by  my  wife 
from  her  chickens,  pigs,  and  goats. 


176     LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA. 

The  standard  of  the  laboring  class  is  improving  slowly.  Their  natural 
physical  condition  is  one  of  strength ;  but  the  climate  does  not  promote 
Ionge^^ty,  and  consequently  there  are  but  few  old  men. 

RELATIONS  BETWEEN  EMPLOYEE  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  relations  between  employer  and  emjiloye  are  those  of  amity  and 
good-will,  as  the  laboring  man  will  not  work  for  money  only,  but  re- 
quires to  be  treated  as  a  freeman. 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS. 

Every  man,  under  the  law,  has  the  right  to  vote,  but  comparatively 
few  exercise  that  right;  consequently  the  workingman  has  little  or  no 
influence  on  legislation. 

The  revenues  of  the  General  and  State  governments  are  raised  by 
imjjost  duties;  the  local  tax  by  imposts  on  rum,  rents,  and  licenses; 
also  by  a  direct  tax  of  two  days'  labor  annually  or  its  equivalent  in 
cash. 

The  tendency  of  legislation  is  to  extend  railways  and  open  water  com- 
munication by  subsidizing  various  projects,  and  thus  benefit  the  laboring 
classes  and  give  greater  facilities  to  actual  settlers  on  Government 
lands. 

Part  II. — Female  Labor. 

Any  statement  of  the  number  of  women  and  children  employed  in 
this  consular  district  in  industrial  pursuits,  not  including  ordinary 
household  duties,  or  domestic  servants,  would  be  mere  guess-work,  as 
there  are  no  statistics  to  aid  one,  and  no  returns  by  the  manufacturer 
to  the  Government.    Therefore  I  can  give  but  a  general  idea. 

In  the  manufacturing  and  mechanical  pursuits  women  make  hats, 
mats,  and  i)ottery.  They  do  not  work  by  the  day,  but  sell  their  own 
wares.  Their  number  is  small.  Commercial,  including  transportation, 
number  small. 

Yery  few  women  in  this  country  fill  any  of  the  professional  and  per- 
sonal occupations,  excepting  those  of  teachers,  hotel  and  boarding- 
house  keepers,  laundresses,  and  musicians.    The  last  two  classes  abound. 

In  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  the  women  and  children  often  take  the 
place  of  the  men,  and  cultivate  the  ground  and  market  the  i)roduce, 
while  the  head  of  the  house  is  fishing  or  attending  to  other  matters. 

Where  gold  is  washed  out  of  running  streams,  it  is  not  unusual  to 
see  husband  and  wife  washing  the  dirt  side  by  side,  but  women  never 
work  in  the  mines  for  wages. 

It  is  supposed  there  is  a  surplus  of  females  in  the  country,  and  that 
a  majority  of  them  are  workers ;  but  it  is  impossible  to  classify  or 
number  them.  It  may,  i)erhaps,  be  safely  said  they  do  the  heaviest 
part  of  the  work,  and  yet  are  in  comi^lete  subjection  to  their  lords. 

The  average  wages  paid  to  female  adults  do  not  vary  from  those  paid 
to  males,  when  they  perform  the  same  work.  The  hours  of  labor  are 
the  same,  and  in  general  the  same  remarks  may  be  applied  to  both 
sexes. 

THE    COLOMBIAN   WORKINGMAN. 

The  laboring  man  is  willing  to  work,  docile  in  his  nature,  apt  in  learn- 
ing, and,  when  treated  with  the  kindness  and  consideration  due  to 
human  nature,  will  accomplish  any  reasonable  task  assigned  him.     His 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA.     177 

wajjes  are  low,  but  on  a  scale  with  his  requirements.  Without  any 
great  incentive  to  improve  his  condition,  the  innate  desire  of  ^ain  and 
comfort  causes  his  exertions,  and  the  inbred  principle  of  barter  makes 
merchants  of  all  of  them,  and  Colombia  has  the  bone  and  sinew  and 
natural  resources  to  raise  her  into  a  great  i)roducing  country. 

THOMAS  M.  DAWSON, 


United  States  Consulate, 

Barranquilla,  August  23,  1884. 


Consul. 


MEDELLIN. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  ESMOND. 

In  accordance  with  the  "  Labor  Circular "  from  the  Department  of 
State  of  February  15,  1884,  I  hav^e  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
in  response  thereto : 

RATES   OF   wages. 

The  rates  for  every  class  of  labor  in  this  State  vary  only  in  the  ex- 
pertness  of  one  laborer  over  another,  independent  of  the  vocation, 
whether  mining,  mechanical,  or  agricultural.  Price  per  day,  from  4 
rials  to  1  peso  (32  to  80  cents),  and  if  away  from  their  homes  board  in- 
cluded. 

COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  is  greatly  dependent  upon  the  mau's  disposition 
to  work  extra  hours  or  not,  as  the  natural  fertility  and  cheapness  of 
the  ground  renders  it  easy  for  each  laborer  to  possess  a  garden  spot 
sutlicient  to  produce  the  necessaries  of  life,  with  but  little  taken  from 
his  wages  to  accomplish  the  same.  Xearly  all  grow  their  own  corn, 
platinos  (species  of  banana),  and  yucas,  and  in  addition  to  these  their 
food  is  simple,  and  costs,  according  to  the  locality,  whether  mining  or 
agricultural,  as  follows : 

Minim)  districts. — Panela,*  2  to  C  pounds  for  2  rials  (16  cents) ;  beans 
per  almud  {11.^  pounds),  8  to  20  rials  (64  to  100  cents)  j  beef  is  used  very 
sparingly,  15  to  25  cents  per  pound. 

Agricultural  districts. — Panela,  7  to  15  pounds,  2  rials  (16  cents) ;  beans 
per  almud,  5  to  12  rials  (40  to  9G  cents) ;  beef,  7J  to  12J  cents  per  pound. 

The  few  who  do  not  raise  corn,  platanes,  and  yucas  need  to  pay  for 
the  same  in  mining  districts.  Corn  per  alnuul  {11.^  pounds),  0  to  10 
rials  (48  to  80  cents) ;  platinos  and  yucas,  5  to  10  rials  (40  to  80  cents) 
.per  100, 

Corn  i)er  almud,  2i  to  6  rials  (20  to  48  cents) ;  platinos  and  yucas,  2 
to  4  rials  (16  to  32  cents)  per  100.  Kice,  cheese,  and  butter  are  luxu- 
ries, and  bread  from  Hour  of  wheat  is  a  rarity.  The  "  representative 
man"  is  generally  in  debt,  keeps  no  account  of  his  income  or  expendi- 
tures, and  any  definite  idea  of  the  costs  per  capita  of  his  family  living 
j)er  month  or  year  would  be  quite  troublesome  even  for  him  to  obtain. 

The  clothing  consists  of  trousers  of  coarse  cotton  cloth,  costing  from 
9  to  13  rials  (72  to  104  cents),  and  a  shirt  of  white  cotton  or  a  fancy- 

P'.*  Crude  sugar  in  l-pomid  cakes.     The  "staff  of  life"  of  the  laboring  class  of  this 
State. 

92  A— 2  LAB 12 


178    LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA. 

checked  calico,  costing  4  to  10  rials  (32  to  80  cents).    Needing  neither 
boots  nor  coats,  the  cost  of  clothing  is  inconsiderable. 

The  majority  have  small  houses  of  their  own.  Those  not  having  them 
live  with  relatives  and  escape  rents. 

WAGES   PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

Am  not  aware  whether  report  upon  Labor  Circular  was  made  for  this 
district  in  1878  or  not. 

By  inquiry  I  find  that  the  wages  of  all  classes  have  advanced  20  per 
cent,  since  that  date  without  any  change  in  the  conditions  then  prevail- 
ing other  than  the  preseut  increased  and  increasing  currency  of  bank 
bills  in  lieu  of  the  silver  coin,  concerning  which  bills  the  laboring  class, 
possibly  without  reason,  are  very  suspicious. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  majority  steady,  but  not  trustworthy ;  faithful,  but  as  a  man 
knowing  that  lie  has  to  work  and  is  watched.  Many  are  trustworthy 
and  receive  from  their  employers  confidences  that  if  misplaced  would 
cause  losses  of  thousands  of  dollars. 

They  have  small  chance  of  "saving,"  as  their  families  are  large,  and 
until  such  time  as  a  man  has  a  family  expense  of  his  own  he  is  called 
upon  and  generally  does  assist  that  of  his  parents. 

The  principal  cause  of  evil  is  the  extreme  laxity  in  enforcing  good 
laws,  and  the  rank  poison,  aguardiente  (new  white  rum),  sold  at  nearly 
every  house  on  the  road  or  in  towns  at  less  than  2  cents  per  glass. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  employer  pays  the  least  he  can,  taking  advantage  of  every  cir- 
cumstance of  the  man,  and  demands  ail  the  work  the  man  is  capable  of 
executing;  the  man  working  for  the  best  price  he  can  get,  for  such 
time  as  his  convenience  permits,  and  leaves  without  notice,  no  matter 
how  great  inconvenience  or  loss  the  employer  may  suffer  thereby.  A 
contract  to  labor  a  specified  time  at  a  specified  price  is  of  no  account. 

A  feeling  of  distrust  exists  between  employer  and  employe  to  the  ex- 
tent of  preventing  the  carrying  to  success  any  considerable  work  of  im- 
portance depending  upon  the  services  of  the  laboring  classes.*  This  dis- 
trust I  believe  hinders  in  a  great  degree  the  prosperity  of  the  community. 

There  are  laws  upon  the  statutes  that  would  correct  the  cause  of  this 
distrust,  but  they  are  not  enforced. 

There  are  no  labor  organizations  within  this  State,  and  strikes  are 
unknown. 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

They  are  free  to  purchase  where  they  choose.  Some  mines  have 
stores  of  their  own,  but  neither  ask  or  expect  the  men  to  purchase 
there  if  they  do  not  wish  to. 

Establishments  in  or  near  cities  pay  weekly  in  coin  and  bank  bills. 
Mines  distant  from  cities  pay  every  month  and  during  the  month  if  re- 
quested— all  in  silver  coin. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES,  ETC. 

There  are  none  here. 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  in  speaking  with  several  prominent  capitalists  and  mer- 
chants, they  tell  me  that  such  is  the  fact. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA.     179 
GENERAL   CONDITION   OF    THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

From  the  fact  that  tliej'  can  save  bnt  a  very  small  sum,  if  anything  at 
all,  for  old  age,  accident  or  sickness,their  general  condition  is  bad. 

In  that  it  is.true  that  to  all  who  care  to  work  oi)i)ortunity  is  never  lack- 
ing at  wages  that  will  secure  the  necessaries  of  life  (with  which  their 
ambitions  are  satisfied),  one  might  say  their  condition  was  good,  for  no 
severe  seasons  or  failure  of  employers  to  pay  ever  distresses  them. 

They  live  harmoniously,  ^ach  man  securing  a  habitation  for  his  family 
by  themselves,  it  being  very  rare  indeed  for  two  families  to  live  under 
the  same  roof. 

Their  homes  are  in  small  houses  of  two  or  three  rooms,  beside  the  cook 
room  (generally  a  small  "  liutern"  unconnected  with  the  other  rooms), 
neither  having  a  tioor  other  than  the  earth,  and  without  chairs  or  fur- 
niture, and  generally  lacking  a  table ;  a  rude  bench  upon  one  side  of 
the  main  room  serving  for  a  "settee"  during  the  day  and  bed  at  night 
for  those  of  the  family  who  cannot  "pack  in"  in  the  bedroom  proper. 
These  rooms  are  kejjt  clean  and  tidy.  Every  family  keeps  a  few  hens 
and  a  pig  to  fatten,  the  pig  being  their  only  savings  bank,  the  receipts 
from  the  sale  of  which  are  not  used  for  living  expenses,  but  in  reducing 
the  little  store  debt  or  re  enforcing  the  clothing  of  the  family. 

Food. — At  5  to  6  a.  m.  agua  dulce  (sugar  and  water)  and  one  arepa 
(cake  of  corn  bread);  at  9  to  10  a.  m.  breakfast  brought  to  the  work, 
consisting  of  sancocho  (a  mixed  soup  of  yucas,  bananas,  and  a  small 
piece  of  meat),  one-fourth  pound  of  panila  (crude  sugar  in  cake),  and 
one  arei)a,  the  meal  occupying  20  or  30  minutes.  Dinner  brought  into 
the  works  at  3  p.  m.,  occupying  30  minutes,  and  consisting  of  sancocho, 
a  large  dish  of  boiled  beans,  a  pint  of  masamora  (similar  to  the  American 
farmer's  "hulled  corn"),  and  one-fourth  pound  of  panila.  After  work 
at  night,  the  agua  dulce  and  arepa,  same  as  in  the  morning. 

Clothing. — Working  suit  of  pants  and  shirt  so  skillfully  patched  as  to 
completely  hide  the  original  material.  Hat  of  straw,  cheap  affair.  For 
Sundays  and  feast  days,  clean  autl  tidy  trousers  and  shirt  of  fancy-  col- 
ored design,  surmounted  by  the  cloth  ruana  (poncho).  A  tine  hat  of 
home  manufacture  costs  from  $2  to  $6. 

With  the  exceedingly  strongly  marked  line  that  exists  between  the 
employer  and  employe,  and  the  reciprocal  distrust  between  them,  with 
the  money  in  the  hands  of  a  few,  it  seems  evident  that  the  chances  for 
bettering  the  condition  of  the  laboring  classes  here  are  very  slight. 
Their  moral  condition  is  generally  good ;  the  physical  more  than  good, 
and  the  majority  take  a  pride  in  performing  long  and  arduous  tasks  when 
directed  what  to  do,  or  working  at  tasks  that  they  understand  how  to 
l)erform. 

The  influences  that  surround  them  for  good  or  evil  are,  upon  the  one 
hand,  the  church  and  family ;  the  other,  lax  administration  of  the  law 
and  free  rum  shops. 

STATEMENT   OF   A  WORKINGMAN. 

A  representative  man  of  the  working  class  answers  as  follows: 

Question.   How  old  arc  von  ? — Answer.  Forty-two. 

Q.  What  is  your  trade  ? — A.  Rough  carpenier  and  experienced  miner. 

Q.  How  much  of  a  family  have  you  ? — A.  Wife  and  six  children. 

Q.  What  wages  do  you  receive  per  day  ? — A.  Four  to  eight  reals  (32  to  65  cents)  for 
twelve  hours'  work. 

Q.  How  much  time  out  of  the  twelve  hours  do  you  have  for  meals  ? — A.  One  half 
hour  for  breakfast  and  one  half  hour  for  dinner. 


180    LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA. 

Q.  Cau  you  lay  up  auy  money  upon  those  wages  ? — A.  No,  not  a  cent. 

Q.  What  do  you  do,  then,  in  case  of  sickness  or  you  suffer  an  accident  ? — A.  Oh,  get 
along  some  way  ;  what  ever  God  wills  (/o  que  Dios  quiera) ;  run  iu  debt  maybe,  or  if 
the  wife  has  the  pig  fattened,  we  sell  it. 

Q.  Can  you  tell  me  how  much  it  costs  you  for  your  living  per  month  or  year  ? — A. 
No  ;  only  that  it  is  all  I  earn,  whether  I  work  every  day  or  not. 

Q.  Are  you  contented  with  this? — A.  (with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders  and  raising  of 
eyebrows).  Why  not?  I  might  be  worse  off.  I  only  worry  when  the  wife  or  children 
are  sick. 

SAFETY   OF   EMPLOY:6s. 

No  meauvS  furnished  for  safety  nor  provision  for  care  of  laborers  in 
case  of  accident ;  no  thought  given  by  employer  to  the  moral  or  physi- 
cal condition  of  his  laborers. 

The  relations  between  the  two  are  civil,  polite,  and  with  outward 
kindness,  the  laborer  taking  offense  at  any  seeming  "bull-dozing"  or 
severe  criticism,  and  may  stop  work,  however  urgent  it  may  be. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

They  have  all  the  political  rights  of  others.  Without  ambition  or 
organization,  they  liave  no  influence  upon  legislation  whatever.  There 
having  been  no  taxes  collected  upon  real  estate  or  personal  property, 
the  laboring  class  pay  nearly  all  the  taxes,  in  the  way  of  high  prices 
(comparatively)  for  all  things  purchased,  as  all  taxes  are  levied  upon  the 
importations  of  goods  and  merchandise  into  the  State.  Recently  there  has 
been  passed  a  law  to  tax  real  estate,  and  is  now  being  put  into  effect. 

Present  legislation  is  upon  questions  that  would  not  appear  to  effect 
labor  or  the  working  people. 

CAUSES   OF   EMIGRATION. 

The  laboring  classes  do  not  emigrate.  They  vegetate,  work,  and  die 
in  or  near  the  State  in  which  they  were  born. 

I  deem  it  but  just  to  say  that  from  a  personal  experience  of  two  years 
in  employing  a  large  number  of  these  laborers,  they  are  more  faithful 
and  better  workers  than  the  railroad  and  canal  building  laborers  of  our 
own  country,  and  although  the  native  emj^loyer  is  indifferent  to  the 
moral  and  physical  condition  of  his  laborers,  he  is  very  charitable  to 
the  infirm,  aged,  or  crippled. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

Tn  this  State  the  female  industrial  labor  of  auy  number  congregated 
is  confined  to  the  one  hundred  or  more  in  the  Zancudo  gold  and  silv^er 
mines,  and  the  seventy-live  to  one  hundred  carrying  coal  for  the  evap- 
orization  of  salt  water  at  Helicouia. 

In  the  mines  they  are  paid  according  to  the  amount  of  labor  per- 
formed, consisting  of  wheeling  or  carrying  mineral  from  the  mines  to 
the  mill,  earning  from  3  to  6  reals  per  day  (24  to  48  cents.)  There  is 
but  very  little,  if  any,  difference  between  the  work  and  the  pay  of  the 
men  and  the  women. 

In  the  salt  works  at  Heliconia  the  works  pay  a  stipulated  i)rice  [)er 
84  arrobas  (2,100  pounds)  of  coal  delivered,  the  coal  mines  being  located 
from  300  to  1,000  yards  distant;  the  women  iiurchasing  from  the  mines 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    UNITED    STATES    OF    COLOMBIA.     181 

and  "backing"  or  carrying  the  same  in  bags  (100  to  200  i)onn(ls  each) 
ui)on  their  heads  \o  the  works.  They  gain  for  this  from  4  to  ]0  reals 
(32  to  80  cents)  jier  day. 

Keither  of  the  above  descriptions  of  work  of  women  has  produced  any 
effect  upon  the  wages  of  the  men.  Like  the  men,  they  are  uneducated 
beyond  the  forms  of  the  church  (Catholic). 

Ai)art  from  the  above  are  numerous  women  working  in  the  tobacco 
districts  as  "selecters"  and  "strippers,"  realizing  from  4  to  5  rials  (32 
to  40  cents)  per  day. 

Many  women  throughout  the  State  employ  their  spare  time  in  mak- 
ing so-called  Panama  hats,  thousands  of  which  are  annually  sold  at  the 
capital  and  for  exportation.  The  labor  is  performed  at  their  homes,  and 
this  scattered  product  is  so  great  that  it  would  be  a  hazardous  venture 
to  erect  a  factorv  for  this  class  of  work. 

E.  RICHARD  ESMOND, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

MedeUin,  May  28,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

fVagts  paid  per  day  of  twelve  hours  hi  Medellin. 


Ocoapations. 


Lowest.    Highest.   Average. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers :  $0  40 

Plasterei-s 40 

TemliTs  20 

Plunibei  8 \  40 

Aseistauts 20 

Carpenters <  1  00 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Blacksmiths !  80 

Strikers  (apprentices) !  20 

Bookbinders ' \  50 

Briek-makers 40 

Brewers 30 

Distillers 1  20 

Drivers  (boys) 20 

Cab  and  carriage  drivers 20 

Laborers,  porters,  <fcc 20 

Potters :  40 

Printers 40 

TeaeherN  public  schools* <  30  00 

Saddle  and  harness  makers I  50 

Tailors 50 


$0  60 

$0  50 

60 

50 

30 

25 

70 

50 

40 

25 

1  50 

1  00 

1  20 

1  00 

30 

20 

80 

70 

80 

50 

50 

40 

3  00 

2  50 

60 

25 

60 

25 

50 

40 

1  00 

60 

80 

50 

60  00 

40  00 

1  20 

60 

1  50 

75 

*  Per  month. 


Note. — All  wages  marked  in  American  values,  the  peso  or  dollar  of  Colombia  beinp  the  equivalent 
(lens  the  premium  of  exchange)  of  the  American  gold  dollar.  Premium  deducted  at  present  rates  of 
exchange  (25  per  cent.)  to  procure  the  prices  above. 


182   labor  in  south  america:  united  states  of  colombia. 
11.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  twelve  hours  in  factories  or  milh  in  Medellin,  Antioquia,  United 

States  of  Colombia. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

MILLS.* 

$0  60 
50 
40 

3  00 
25 

1  20 
90 

$0  80 
60 
60 

3  00 
40 

1  20 
90 

$0  60 
50 

40 

FACTO  RT.t 

Saperintendent  and  director 

3  00 

35 

Foreman 

1  20 

90 

*  Ten  or  twelve  small  mills,  making  sugar  and  sirup,  all  of  which  are  equipped  with  English  ma- 
chinery. 
t  One  factory  for  pottery,  constructed  by  Germans,  and  producing  poor  work. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  twelve  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Medellin, 
Antioquia,  United  States  of  Colombia. 


Occupations. 


BLAST-FUBNACB. 


Superintendent  and  general  foreman . 
Helpers 


MACHINE-SHOP.^ 


Superintendent  of  woodwork 

Superintendent  of  machine-shop . 
Assistant  superintendents 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


$2  00 
40 


2  50 
2  50 
1  00 


$0  60 


Average. 


$2  00 
50 


2  50 
2  50 
1  25 


•  Under  the  name  of  "School  of  Arts  and  Sciences,"  conducted  by  the  State,  in  educating  machinists 
and  artisans. 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  twelve  hours  in  and  in  co7ineciion  with  the  majority  of  hydraulic  and 
quartz  mines  in  the  State  of  Antioquia,  United  States  of  Colombia. 


Occupations. 


Mines  in  a  good  climate  and  near  a  town  of  any  size : 

Boys  and  helpers ' 

Ordinary  laborers  * 

Experienced  native  miners  * 

Mining  boss.  American,  English,  or  Frenchman  t. 

Superintendent  and  director* 

Mines  in  a  bad  climate : 

Boys  and  helpers  t   

Ordinary  laboi  era  t    .  -   

Experienced  native  miners t  

Mining  boss  t 

Superintendent  and  director  t 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$0  15 

$0  40 

25 

60 

40 

80 

4  50 

7  50 

5  00 

10  00 

25 

50 

40 

80 

60 

1  50 

5  00 

10  00 

6  00 

12  50 

Average. 


$0  25 

40 

50 

5  00 

7  00 

30 

60 

80 

7  00 

10  00 


'  Without  board  and  lodging. 


t  "With  board  and  lodging. 


The  board  and  lodging  of  men  costs  from  20  cents  to  $35  cents  per  man  per  day,  according  to  the  re- 
moteness of  the  works  from  the  base  of  supplies. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 


183 


Wages  paid  per  month  in  the  generaliln  of  stores,  wholesale  and  retail,  to  males*  in  the  district 
of  Medelliii,  United  States  of  Colombia. 


Occupations. 


Salesmen  and  iirst-class  bookkeepers. 
Clerks 


Lowest. 


$20  00 
8  00 


Highest.  {Average. 


$150  00 
50  00 


$50  00 
30  00 


■Have  not  seen  any  female  employes  in  any  store  of  the  State  up  to  date. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  the  district  of  Medellin 

United  States  of  Colombia. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Female  cooks    

Fcinalfi  general  housework  . . 
Male  servants,  general  work  . 


$1  50 

80 

2  00 


Highest. 


Average. 


$5  00  $2  40 

3  00  2  00 

6  00  I  3  50 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  the  dii 
trict  of  Medellin,  with  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Greneral  out-door  work   

Plowman,  and  men  that  can  work  oxen    . 
Household  servants  of  "general  utility" 


Lowest. 


$3  00 
6  00 


Highest.  I  Average. 


$10  00  ;       $8  00 

20  00  12  00 

3  00  2  00 


TEIS^EZUELA. 

LA  GUAYRA. 

REPOJiT  BY  CONSUL  WJNFIELD  S.  BIRD. 

Ill  reply  to  the  questions  contained  in  "  Labor  Circular "  from  the 
Department  of  State  of  date  February  15  ultimo,  the  following  obser- 
vations are  respectfully  submitted: 

MALE  LABOR. 

The  rates  of  wages  paid  to  all  classes  of  laborers,  as  near  as  can  be 
ascertained,  are  indicated  in  the  tables  hereto  attached. 


COST   OF  LIVING. 


In  general  terms  it  may  be  stated  that  the  cost  of  all  provisions,  ex- 
cept sugar,  rice,  and  coffee,  is  nearly,  if  not  quite,  one  hundred  per  cent, 
dearer  than  in  the  United  States.  This  is  made  so  by  the  enormous  im- 
port duties  paid  on  flour,  lard,  meats,  &c.  The  cost  of  living  increases, 
therefore,  in  the  same  ratio ;  or,  to  be  practically  accurate,  board  that 


184  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 

may  be  obtained  in  the  United  States  for  $16  per  month  costs  in  La 
Gnayra  the  sum  of  $28  per  month.  The  prices  of  dry  goods  are  from 
3;^  to  40  per  cent,  dearer  than  in  the  United  States.  Rents  in  the  city 
are  fully  as  dear  as  in  cities  of  the  same  size  in  the  United  States,  dwell- 
ing houses  ranging  from  $5  to  $40  per  month,  and  business  houses  from 
$20  to  $60  per  month. 

WAGES  PAST    AND  PRESENT. 

i^o  comparison,  from  personal  knowledge,  can  be  made  between  the 
present  rate  of  wages  and  that  of  1878,  nor  between  the  conditions 
prevalent  then  and  those  obtaining  now;  but  from  information,  it  is 
presumed  that  the  circamstancea  are  not  materially  changed. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

As  to  the  habits  of  the  working  classes,  it  may  be  said  that  they  are 
good  enough  in  every  respect  except  as  to  steady  and  faithful  labor. 
By  nature  and  habit  they  are  not  industrious,  nor,  unless  with  intelli- 
gent direction,  can  they  be  trusted  to  accurately  and  promptly  perform 
any  particular  service.  They  are  really  shiftless  and  time-serving,  and, 
lacking  the  persistent  energy  and  patience  that  characterize  our  farmer 
and  laborer.  They  delight  in  the  oft-recurring  feast  days  peculiar  to 
all  Catholic  countries,  and  lose  no  opportunity  to  letoff  rockets  in  honor 
of  patron  saints,  to  have  a  dance  at  a  baptism,  and  grand  masquerades 
at  the  carnival  season.  While  they  have  not  the  proper  appreciation 
of  the  institution  of  marriage,  it  is  also  true  that  they  are  faithful  in 
their  attachments  and  happy  at  home.  They  live  in  the  to-day  and 
take  no  thought  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  to-morrow.  The 
poorer  classes  live  on  plantains,  bananas,  cassava,  and  vegetables,  with 
a  small  modicum  of  beef  or  fish  daily,  and  are  thus  in  their  poverty  ena- 
bled to  defy  famine.  Their  clothing,  consonant  with  the  climate,  is  al- 
ways of  coarse  cotton  goods,  with  native  straw  hats  and  leather  sandals 
for  the  feet.  With  all  this,  however,  they  are  generally  of  remarkably 
temperate  habits,  and  are  quite  exempt  from  crime,  in  this  respect  com- 
paring most  favorably  with  any  community  in  our  own  country.  In 
searching  for  the  causes  that  afiect  their  habits,  as  above  generally 
stated,  it  is  naturally  concluded  that  the  deliciousclimate  and  spontane- 
ous fruits  of  the  soil  combine  to  enervate  them  and  that  their  filial  re- 
spect and  reverence  for  the  priest  and  the  church  exer  cise  a  powerful 
influence  an<l  restraint  over  them. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  between  employ^  and  employer  is  one  of  mutual  trust  and 
confidence,  rarely  betrayed  on  the  part  of  either,  as  is  too  often  the  case 
in  some  of  our  own  communities. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS   AND    STRIKES. 

There  are  no  organizations  of  either  capital  or  labor. 

As  a  consequence  of  the  lack  of  labor  unions  strikes  are  unknown. 

PAY   AND   FOOD   PURCHASES. 

The  laborer  receives  his  stipulated  wages  by  the  day,  week,  or  month, 
as  the  case  may  be,  in  silver  currency,  and  is  at  liberty  to  purchase  the 
necessaries  of  life  wherever  he  chooses. 

There  are  no  co-operative  societies  existing  here. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


185 


GENERAL   OONDITION   OF   THE   LABORING   CLASSES. 

The  question  asked  has  already  been  answered  in  a  general  manner. 
As  to  the  general  condition  of  the  common  people,  it  may  be  added  that, 
although  poor,  their  wants  are  few  and  simple.  Their  houses  are  rude 
structures  of  adobe  with  thatched  roofs  and  without  window,  chimney, 
or  door  shutter,  to  which  the  cats,  dogs,  pigs,  and  chickens  have  free 
access.  A  wick  in  a  pan  of  grease  serves  for  a  lamp,  an  iron  pot  with 
some  charcoal  is  a  fair  kitchen  onttit,  a  Hour-barrel  inverted  serves  for 
a  table,  and  some  boards  overlaid  with  straw  suffice  for  a  bed. 

There  are  no  mills  or  manufactories,  properly  so  called,  in  this  district,  v/ 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS. 

The  i)olitical  rights  enjoyed  by  workingmen  in  this  Eepublic  are  fairly 
presumed  to  be  the  same  as  those  pertaining  to  other  classes,  yet  it  may 
reasonably  be  doubted  whether  or  not  they  generally  exercise  these 
rights,  and  if  they  are,  in  any  degree,  able  to  thereby  influence  legisla- 
tion. They  pay  no  local  or  general  taxes;  and,  in  legislation,  their  civil 
and  political  rights,  although  fully  recognized,  are  not  a  matter  of  dis- 
turbance or  agitation. 

There  is  no  emigration  from,  and  but  little  immigration  to  Venezuela. 

FEMALE  LABOR. 

After  proper  inquiry  it  is  found  impracticable  to  furnish  any  facts  in 
reference  to  female  labor,  simply  because  the  women  do  not  work.  It 
should  be  said  that  education  is  making  fair  progress  amongst  the  lower 
classes,  owing  to  the  system  of  free  schools  established  throughout  the 
country,  and,  if  there  is  any  good  future  to  be  hoped  for  from  the  rising 
generation,  it  must  come  through  this  channel. 

WINFIELD  S.  BIRD, 

ConsuL 
United  States  Consulate, 

La  Guayra,  May  5,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  La  Guayra. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 
1 

$3  47 

3  47 
23  16 

26  94 
10  27 

4  11 

6  15 

7  00 

$11  .58 

11  58 
30  11 

34  63 
16  42 
5  36 
9  24 

8  40 

$6  95 

6  95 

Foreign  gas-fitters -  -  -  -   -  -  -  - -   - 

27  79 

Bakers 

OTHER  TRADES. 

30  00 

Blacksmiths 

12  00 

Strikers 

4  50' 

Bookbinders 

7  50 

Brick-makers 

7  75 

186  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  La  Guayra — Continued. 


Occapations. 


Otheb  trades— Contimied. 


Butchers 

Cabinet-makers 
Confectioners  .. 
Cigar-makers  ... 
Coopers  ' 


Drivers  on  street  railways. 
Dvers  * 


Engravers  * 

Gardeners 

Hatters  

Horseshoers  * 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Lithograpbers 

Printers 


Teacbers, public  schools  ... 
Saddle  and  harness  makers. 

Stevedores  

Tanners 


Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Weavers  (outside  of  mills) . 

Chocolate  factory 

Shoemakers 


Lowest. 


$8  76 
6  95 
4  81 
9  24 


6  12 


4  63 
11  58 


7  00 

14  42 

7  70 

7  20 

11  58 

tl  93 

9  24 

9  60 

4  81 

5  75 


4  81 
6  95 


Highest. 


$10  15 
13  90 
8  65 
11  55 


8  43 


9  26 
16  21 


Average. 


8  40  j 
28  84 

8  24  I 
11  54  I 
17  37 
tl  93 
11  55 
11  50 

7  69 

6  90 


4  81 
17  37 


$9  00 
9  26 
6  73 

10  00 


7  00 


5  79 
13  90 


7  75 
19  23 

8  00 
7  70 

14  00 
tl  93 
10  00 
10  00 

5  77 

6  00 


4  81 
10  00 


Per  job. 


t  Per  day. 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  factories  or  mills  in  La  Guayra. 
[Week  of  54  hours.  1 


Occnpations. 


Superintendent 

Engineer 

Laborers 


Average 


$110  00 
50  00 
30  00 


VI.  Railway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  ^'c.)  in  La  Guayra  Station, 
Venezuela. 


Occupations. 


Fixed 
wages. 


Station  master $121  25 

Chief  clerk  and  cashier 76  92 

Booking  clerk 46  15 

Goods  clerks  50  00 

Checkers i    29  23 

Fort-man  of  goods-shed 

Shunter,  foreman 

Shunters,  under 

Pointsmen 

Night  watchmen 


Occupations. 


50  00 

50  00 

29  23 

29  23 

34  62 

29  23 

Foreman  porters 

Porters 

Telegraph  clerk 

Engine  drivers 

Firemen 

Cleaners 

Plate  layers , 

Laborers,  permanent  way 
Conductors : 

Passenger 

Freight 


Fixed 
wages. 


$50  00 
24  62 
76  92 
87  30 
58  20 
34  62 
87  30 
24  62 

76  92 
61  54 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA 


187 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wage*  paid  per  vionih  to  seamen  (officers  and  men)  distinguishing  between  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam,  in  La  (iuayra. 


Occupations. 


SAIL  VBSSBL,  COAST. 


<Japtain 

Second  otUcial . 
Sailor 


STEAM  VESSELS. 


Captain 

Second  officer  . . . 

Sailor 

Fireman 

First  engineer. . . 
Second  engineer. 
Pnrser 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$19  23 

$34  62 

$28  95 

15  39 

23  08 

23  16 

7  70 

9  25 

8  08 

46  15 

57  69 

50  97 

38  46 

46  15 

41  36 

11  55 

11  55 

11  55 

15  39 

19  23 

17  32 

76  96 

96  15 

86  57 

57  69 

61  54 

50  62 

38  46 

46  15 

43  28 

Wages  paid  for  ocean,  coast,  and  river  navigation  alike. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  vwnth  in  dry  goods,  <^c.,  stores,  wholesale  and  retail,  to  males,  in  La  Guayra. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


Average. 


WHOLESALE.  i 

Bookkeeper $61  54 

Chief  clerk 92  31 

Ca.shier 76  92 

Clerks. 30  77 

Porters 38  46 


$76  92 

$65  62 

115  38 

101  32 

92  31 

81  06 

61  54 

38  60 

t6  15 

40  53 

RETAIL. 


Clerks 


38  46 


40  53 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

ff'ages paid  per  month  with  board  to  household  servants  {totvns  and  cities)  in  La  Guayra, 

with  board. 


Occupation.?.    . 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$6  15 
3  08 
3  08 
3  08 

$11  55 

7  70 

7  70 

6  15 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  sei'vants  in  district  of 
La  Guayra,  with  board  and  lodging. 


Oocupations. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


Agricultural  laborers. 

Other  laborers 

Boysand  girls 


$0  50 
40 
15 


$0  80 
50 
25 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  La  Gtiayra. 
[Week  of  60  hours.] 


Occupations.. 

Salary.* 

Occupations. 

Salary.* 

$123  52 
69  48 
69  48 
123  52 
54  04 
46  32 
23  55 

$27  02 

30  88 

30  88 

23  18 

18  13 

19  30 

23  16 

*  These  are  fixed  wages. 


XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  month  to  the  trades  and  labore'S  in  Government  employ  in  La  Guayra 


Occupations. 


Fixed 
wages.* 


Collector  of  customs '  $205  86 

Deputy  collector I  154  40 

Cashier I  92  64 

Bookkeeper |  92  64 

Liquidator 123  52 

Assistant  liquidator 77  20 

Assistant  cashier 1  43  23 

Assistant  bookkeeper 43  23 

Store  guard :  92  64 

Weighmaster.   92  64 

First  captain  coast  guard 92  64 

Second  captain  coast  guard 92  64 


Occupations. 


Customs  officer 

Captain  of  launch 

Inteipreter 

Copyists 

Boatmen 

Physicians  (no  salary) . 

Harbor  clerk 

Director  coast  trade  . . 

Judge  

Porters 

Laborers 

Ship  police 


Fixed 

wages.* 


30  88 
40  45 
44  20 
42  46 


30  88 
61  76 
92  64 
45  03 
12  35 
30  88 


*  These  wages  do  not  vary. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  shmcing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  ffty-fonr  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  cjc. )  in  Caracas  and  La  Guayra. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Compositor |  $8  00 

Pressman '  9  00 

Proof-reader ^  12  00 

Typesetter 6  00 

Newsbov 4  00 


Highest. 


$24  00 
16  00 


Avei'age. 


10  00 
7  00 


$12  00 
10  00 


8  00 
5  00 


MARACAIBO. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  PLUMAOHEF. 

Referring  to  the  Labor  Circular  issued  by  tlie  Department,  and  bearing 
date  of  February  15  la.st,  I  have  the  lionor  to  inclose  the  forms  there- 
with sent,  which  I  have  filled  out  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 

In  Part  I  of  the  circular,  relating  to  "male  labor,"  there  are  many 
questions  to  which  answers  can  hardly  be  given,  as  far  as  this  country 
is  concerned. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA.  189 

COST   OF  LIVINGr. 

The  necessary  co8t  of  living  among  the  laboring  classes,  as  referred 
to  in  question  2,  may  be  estimated  at  about  30  cents  per  day  for  each 
individual,  and  tlie  rent  of  a  small  bouse  to  accommodate,  say,  a  family 
of  live  persons  will  amount  to  perhaps  $5  per  mouth. 

The  chief  food  consumed  is  fresh  and  salt  meat,  fish,  and  plantains, 
meat  commanding  a  price  of  from  10  to  15  cents  per  pound,  and  plant- 
ains being  sold  at  an  average  rate  of  20  cents  per  hundred. 

The  clothing  worn  costs  but  little,  consisting,  as  is  natural  in  this  hot 
climate,  of  cotton  fabrics.  It  may  be  said  in  this  connection  that  neat- 
ness is  the  rule  among  this  class. 

WAGES   PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

In  reply  to  question  3,  wages,  since  1878,  have  somewhat  lowered  and 
the  i^rices  of  the  necessaries  of  life  are  higher. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 

As  to  question  4,  the  working  classes  are  improvident  and  by  no 
means  steady,  though  it  can  scarcely  be  said  that  as  a  rule  they  are 
untrustworthy. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS. 

Referring  to  the  remaining  questions  under  the  head  of  "male  labor," 
it  may  be  briefly  stated,  as  will  be  readily  understood  when  the  condi- 
tion of  this  country  is  taken  into  consideration,  that  there  can  be  no 
labor  organizations  nor  strikes. 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

A  negative  answer  may  be  returned  to  all  the  inquiries  except  No.  8. 
The  working  people  purchase  where  they  please,  and  are  paid  in  sil- 
ver, which,  in  Venezuela,  comprises  coins  of  all  countries. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

Regarding  female  labor,  there  is  still  less  to  be  said. 
Female  employ(5s,  as  we  understand  the  term,  are  unknown,  the  occu- 
pations of  women  being  conlined  to  domestic  service,  washing  and  iron- 
ing and  sewing. 

The  undeveloped  condition  of  this  section  renders  it  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult to  reply  satisfactorily  to  questions  regarding  labor,  but  the  inclosed 
returns,  which  I  have  collected  with  much  exertion  and  some  difficulty, 
will,  I  hope,  give  a  fair  geueral  idea. 

E.  M.  PLUMACHER, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Maracaibo,  May  19,  1884. 


190 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  in  Maracaibo. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 


Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 
Masons  . , 

Tenders 

Plasterers  

Tenders 

Slaters  


Koofers 

Tenders. . . 
Plumbers 

Assistants 

Carpenters 

Gasfltters 


OTHEE  TRADES. 


Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers  .   . . 

Bookbinders 

Brick-makers  . . . 

Butchers 

Brass-founders . . 
Cabinet-makers . 
Confectioners  .  - . 
Cigar-makers  . . . 
Cc 


; coper 


Cutlers. .. 
Distillers. 
Drivers  . . 


Draymen  and  teamsters. 

Cab  and  carriage 

Street  railways 


Dyers . 

Engravers 

Furriers , 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

Horse-shoers 

Jewelers 

Lal)orers,  porters,  &c . 

Lithographers 

Millwrights 

Nail-makers  (hand)  ... 
Printers 


Teachers,  public  schools  . . . 
Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sailniakers 

Stevedores    

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Weavers  (outside  of  mills)  . 


$9  60 
3  60 
9  60 
3  60 

12  00 

a  60 

12  00 

6  60 
3  60 

15  00 

7  20 
7  20 

15  00 


10  00 
18  00 

4  80 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 
18  00 
12  00 
12  00 

8  00 
24  00 
16  00 
12  00 

8  00 
12  00 

8  00 

8  00 

8  00 
18  00 
12  00 

8  00 
18  00 
18  00 
20  00 

6  00 
18  00 
28  00 
14  00 

3  50 

12  00 
18  00 

13  00 
16  00 
12  00  ! 
12  00 

14  00 
14  00 

8  00 


$15  00 
4  80 

18  00 
4  80 

14  40 
4  80 

14  40 
13  20 

4  80 
17  50 
12  iiO 

15  00 
21  00 


14  00 
22  00 

7  20 
16  00 

15  00 

15  00 
34  00 

16  00 
18  00 

14  00 
30  00 
20  00 

15  00 
12  00 
15  00 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 
24  00 

15  00 
12  00 
22  00 
24  00 
?6  00 
10  00 
24  00 
28  00 
18  00 
12  50 

16  00 
24  00 
16  00 
20  00 
16  00 
18  00 
20  00 
24  00 
20  00 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

TVages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Maracaibo,  Venezuela. 


Occupations. 


Superintendent 

Overseers 

Laborers 


"We  have  only  a  few  factories  here ;  one  cocoi-oil  factory,  one  ice-factory,  and  a  few  soap  and  candle 
factories.  All'manufactories  are  yet  in  their  infancy.  In  the  interior,  on  the  border  of  the  lake,  we 
have  some  sugar -mills;  some  driven  by  steam,  others  by  water-power,  but  most  by  animal  power. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA.  191 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hourn  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Mara- 

caibo,  Venezuela. 


Occapations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$45  00 
30  00 
18  00 
12  00 

Average. 

$30  00 

24  00 

16  00 

8  00 

$37  50 
27  00 

17  00 

10  00 

We  have  yet  hardly  any  such  estahlishments  which  could  be  honored  with  the  name  of  machine  • 
shops,  &c. 

IV.  Glass-workers. 

Glass  works  do  uot  exist  in  this  part  of  Venezuela,  so  far  as  known. 
Lately  a  concession  was  given  to  a  foreign  house  by  the  Government  to 
erect  glass  works  in  the  country.  Up  to  this  date  everything  is  im- 
ported from  Europe. 

V.  Mines  and  mining.' 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  and  in  connection  toith  mines. 


Oconpations. 


Superintendent 

Assistant  superintendent 
Laborers  of  hijther  class. 
Laborers  of  lower  class. . 


Lowest 

Highest. 

$25  00 
15  00 
12  00 

8  00 

$35  00 
20  00 
16  00 
12  00 

Average. 


$30  00 
17  50 
14  00 
10  00 


The  above  prices  have  been  taken  from  small  works  established  in  the  interi.or. 

VI.  Eailway  employ:6s. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  railway  emplofies  {those  engaged  about  stations  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  lineme7i,  railroad  laborers,  tfc.)  in  the  Cvcuta  district, 
with  board. 


Oconpations. 

Lowest 

Highest 

Average. 

First  engineers  of  locomotive 

$150  00 
75  00 
25  00 
60  00 
25  00 
50  00 
60  00 

$200  00 

100  eo 

30  00 
100  00 
30  00 
70  00 
80  00 

$175  00 
87  50 

Second  enKinoors  of  locomotive 

Flreinen 

27  50 

Tracklayers 

80  00 

Laborers 

27  50 

Station  master . 

60  00 

Section  master 

70  00 

We  have  as  yet  no  railroads  in  this  consular  district.  The  above  figures  are  taken  from  the  Cticuta 
Railroad,  leading  from  Cticuta  to  Villamizar,  in  the  State  of  Tachira,  from  whence  the  railroad  will  be 
continued  thiough  a  part  of  this  consular  district  to  Santa  Cruz,  on  the  Zulia  River. 

As  the  railroads  here  have  to  be  built  through  uninhabited  countries,  where  no  communications  ex- 
ist, it  is  natural  that  the  company  has  to  feed  and  attend  to  all  the  wants  of  the  employes. 


192 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


VII.  Ship- YARDS  and  ship-buildinq. 

Waqes  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  ship-yards  (distinguishing  beUveen  iron  and  woodship- 

huilding)  in  Maracaiho. 


Occupations. 


Boss  carpenter 

Carpenters 

Laborers : 

First  class 

Second  class  . . 
Iron  workers: 

Boiler-makers  . 

Kiveters 

Assistants 

Ship  blacksmiths : 

First  class 

Second  class . . . 
Laborers 


24  00 
16  00 
12  00 


25  00 
18  00 

on 


21  00 
14  00 
10  00 


"We  have  no  regular  ship-yards  here ;  only  small  repairing  is  done,  butit  is  understood  that  in  a  short 
time  we  will  have  a  ship-yard  here  for  the  repair  of  the  vessels  of  the  Venezuelan  navy  and  for  other 
ships,  sail  and  steam,  up  to  1,000  tons  register. 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  bettveen  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam — ir;  Maracaiho,  Venezuela. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


OCEAN  NAVIGATION. 

Steamers.  i 

Captiiin i  $100  00 

First  mate 40  00 

Second  mate |  30  00 

Boatsmen 30  00 

Sailors :  I 

Fiistclass !  16  00 

Second  class i  10  00 

Engineers:  1 

Firstclass  j» i  100  00 

Second  class ;  40  00 

Oilers '  10  00 

Firemen '  18  00 

Stokers 10  00 


Captain 

First  mate 

Second  mate 

First  boatsman  . 

Sail-makers 

Sailors : 

First  class . . . 

Second  class . 
Sailor  boys 


Sailing  ships. 


60  00 
30  00 
25  00 
25  00 
20  00 

15  00 
10  00 
5  00 


COAST.  j 

Steamers.  ■ 

Captain 60  00 

First  mate 40  00 

Second  mate  ;  30  00 

First  boatsman  l  20  00 

Sailors  : 

Firstclass 16  00 

Second  class 10  00 

Engineers: 

Firstclass 70  00 

Second  class 40  00 

Oiler 10  00 

Firemen I  16  00 

Stokers ,  10  00 

Sailing  ships. 

Captain 40  00 

First  officer   20  00 

Second  officer 1  15  00 

Boatsman I  15  00 


Highest. 


$150  00 
70  00 
45  00 
40  00 

24  00 
16  00 

200  00 
80  00 
18  00 
24  00 
14  00 


80  00 
40  00 
30  00 
30  00 
25  00 

20  00 
12  00 
8  00 


$125  00 
55  00 
37  50 
35  00 

20  00 
13  00 

150  00 
60  00 
15  00 

21  00 
12  00 


70  00 
35  00 
27  50 
27  50 
22  50 

17  50 
n  00 

6  50 


100  00 

80  00 

60  00 

50  00 

40  00 

35  00 

30  00 

25  00 

20  00 

18  00 

16  00 

13  00 

100  00 

85  00 

70  00 

55  00 

15  00 

12  50 

20  00 

18  00 

14  OO 

12  00 

50  00 

45  00 

25  00 

22  50 

20  00 

17  50 

20  00 

17  50 

LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA.  193 

Wage8  paid  per  month  to  neamen  (officers  and  men),  tjc. — Coutimied. 


OccupatioDs. 


Seamen  : 

First  class . . . 

Secoiul  class. 
Sailor  boy 


Coast — Continued. 
Sailing  ships. 


Captain 

First  officer 

Second  officer  ... 
First  boatsman  . 
Seamen : 

First  class . . . 

Second  class. 
Engineers : 

First  class . . . 

Second  class . 

Oilers 

Firemen 

Stokers 


KIVEU  STEAMEBS. 


Master  of  bongos . 
Bongonien 


Bongos. 


owest. 

Highest. 

$10  00 

$12  00 

6  00 

10  00 

2  00 

5  00 

50  00 

100  00 

40  00 

60  00 

30  00 

40  00 

20  00 

30  00 

16  00 

20  00 

12  00 

16  00 

75  00 

150  00  1 

40  00 

70  0(1 

10  00 

15  00 

16  00 

20  00 

10  00 

12  00  I 

40  00 

60  0(1 

20  00 

30  00 

i 

$11  00 
8  00 
3  50 


75  00 
50  00 
35  00 
25  00 

18  00 
14  00 

112  50 
55  00 
12  50 
18  00 
11  00 


50  00 
25  00 


*  Name  of  vessels  used  in  the  rivers. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores  to  males,  in  Maraeaibo,  Venezuela. 


OccapatioDS. 


Lo-west.    Highest.  ,  Average. 


WHOLESALE. 

Foreigners : 

Bookkeepers.  &c .1    $150  00!    $250  00  1      $200  00 

Salesmen I      150  00         2.50  00)        200  00 


Foreigners . 
Natives 


RETAII~ 


100  00 
80  00 


75  00 
45  00 


It  is  not  customary  to  employ  females  in  stores  and  shops.  All  the  labor  in  stores,  wholesale  and 
retail,  is  done  by  men.  The  foreign  houses  import  their  young  employes  from  Germany,  and  give 
them,  if  they  turn  out  well,  and  after  they  have  served  a  number  of  years,  an  interest  in  the  business. 
The  niitive  houses  take  natives  or  Creoles  from  the  Dutch  island  of  Curasao.  Many  of  the  clerks  of 
the  foiei<;n  houses  keep  house,  and  the  younger  ones  bo;ird  with  them  or  with  their  cbieis.  The  for- 
eigners, with  their  many  wants  and  necessities,  of  course  have  great  expenses,  so  that  tbeir  salary  is 
hardly  adequate  to  cover  them. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  itotvns  and  cities)  in  Maraeaibo,  Venezuela. 


Occupations. 

1  Lowest. 

Highest. 

$20  00 

40  00 

40  00 

12  00 

6  00 

8  00 
8  00 

5  00 
8  00 

10  00 

6  00 

Average. 

-MALES. 

$10  00 

$15  00 

Cook         

15  00 

22  50 

20  00 

30  00 

5  00 

8  .50 

;i  00 

4  50 

FEMALES. 
Cook 

4  00 

4  00 

6  00 
6  00 

Washerwomen  (help) 

3  00 

4  00 

5  00 

6  50 

5  00 

7  50 

Nurse,  for  children 

3  00 

4  50 

92  A— 2  LAB- 


-13 


'  Inclading  food  and  lodging. 


194 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Mara- 

caibo,  with  or  without  board. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.   Average. 


Field  laborers* ,  $8  00  $12  00 

Teamsters* 12  00  18  00 

Honse  laborers  and  for  stables 12  00  j  15  00 

Laborers  to  clear  fields  and  to  cut  timber  t !  20  00  30  00 

Cowboys* j  5  00  i  8  00 

Herders* ' 5  00  8  00 


$10  00 

15  00 

13  50 

25  00 

6  50 

6  50 


*  "With  food.  t  One  meal  a  day. 

XII.  Corporation  employ:6s. 

Wages  paid  p»r  month  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Maraeaibo,  Venezuela. 


Occupations. 


Mayor  (civil  chief) 

Secretary 

Clerk 

Porter 

Police  department : 

Inspector 

Sub-inspector  . . 

Captains 

Lieutenants 

Roundsmen 

Patrolmen 


Average. 


Occupations. 


$144  00 
60  00 
40  00 
16  00 

80  00 
24  00 
48  00 
27  00 
24  00 
20  00 


Sanitary  inspector. . . 

City  physicians 

City  council: 

Secretary 

Fiist  clerk 

Sec(md  clerk 

Poiter    

Collector  of  city  tax^i 

Cashier 

Cleik  in  tax  office 

Porter  in  tax  office  . . 


Average. 


$24  00 
64  00 

60  00 
40  00 
24  00 
20  00 
82  00 
64  00 
32  00 
20  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

paid  per  month  to    employes  in   Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of 
tradesmen  and  laborers. 


Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

Occupations. 

1 

Average 
wages. 

$192  00 
128  00 
80  00 
80  00 
80  00 
80  00 
56  00 

$25  00 

23  33 

Chief  guardian  of  custom-house  depots. 

Commandant  of  the  coast  guard 

80  00 
32  00 

26  66 

Bookkeeper  of  the  custom-house 

Boatsmen  of  custom-house  boats 

26  60 
13  33 

Chief  of  goods  in  transitu 

53  33 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor  in  Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  month  to  the  trades  and  laborers  in  Government  employ  in  Maraeaibo, 

Venezuela. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$100  00 
12  00 

Director  of  workshops  in  penitentiary 

40  00 

School-teachers  in  night  schools '. 

10  00 

$12  00 

$20  00 

16  00 

40  59 

40  00 

28  00 

56  00 

64  00 

Department  of  primary  instruction. 

20  00 
12  00 

34  00 
16  00 

25  00 

15  00 

10  00 

30  00 

LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


195 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  leagcs  paid  pel-  iveek  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
proof-readers,  ^'C.)  in  Maracaibo,  Venezuela. 


OccnpationSt 


Printers 

Pressmen    

Proof-readers 

Bookbinclers 

Print<'r  devils  

Boys  for  distribation  of  newspapers 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$3  50 

.$12  50 

5  00 

6  00 

6  00 

8  00 

8  50 

10  50 

4  00 

7  00 

4  00 

4  00 

Average. 


$8  00 
5  50 
7  00 
9  50 
5  50 
4  00 


Monthly  wages  in  the  government  of  section  Zulia. 


Average 


Occupations. 


GoveiTior  . . : 1  $280  00 

Secretary  of  state  I  120  00 

Clerks \  53  00 

Members  of  sectional  cotincil . '  80  00 

Secretar V  of  oonncil 86  00 

Porter  of  council 20  00 

Treasurer  of  section 140  00 

Cashier  of  section j i  100  00 

Liquidator  of  section 56  00 


Occupations. 


Bookkeeper 

Collector  of  taxes 

Porter  of  treasurer's  othce 

Inspector  of  wharves 

Subinspector  of  wharves  . 

Bandmaster 

Assistant  bandmaster  .... 

Musicians 

Warden  of  penitentiary  . . 


Average 
wages. 


$56  00 
36  00 
16  00 
60  00 
30  00 

100  00 
30  00 
12  OO 
64  00 


Monthly  tcages  injudicial  department  of  Zulia. 


Occapations. 


Supreme  court 

President.. 

Secretary . . 

Clerk 

Porter 

Superior  judge 

Secretary 

Civil  judge 


Wages. 

$96  33 

40  50  1 

20  00 

16  40 

64  00 

40  50 

64  00 

Occupations. 


Secretary 

Criminal  judge 

Secretary 

Clerk  

District  judge 

Secretary 

Municipal  judges.. . 
Secretaries  to  above 


Wages. 


$40  50 
64  00 
40  50 
9  24 
56  00 
32  00 
24  00 
16  00 


Images  paid  monthly  to  the  employes  of  the  imrious  corporations  and  societies  existing  in 

Maracaiho. 


Occupations. 


Society  Mutuo  AnxiUo 

Treasurer ..   . 

Porter 

Physicians 

Bank  of  Maracaibo : 

Manager 

Cashier    

Clerk 

Lazaretto : 

AVardeu 

Chaplain 

Physician 

Apothecary 

Poliremen " 

Cooks  


Wages. 


$24  00 
32  00 
32  00 

80  00 
80  00 
16  00 

64  00 
36  00 
32  00 
24  00 
20  00 
20  00 


Occupations. 


Hospital  of  Chiquinquira : 

Overseer 

Physicians* 

Apothecary 

Nurses 

Servants  

Hospital  of  the  Casade  Beneflciencia : 

Ke.sidout  inspector  

Chaplain  

Physician 

Hospital  assistants 

.Apothecary 


Wages. 


$29  00 


20  00 

8  00 
4  80 

29  30 
15  00 
40  00 

9  30 
IG  00 


*  Gratis. 


196  LAIIOK    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


PUERTO  CABELLO. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  WHITE. 
HOW   THE    WORKING   CLASSED   LIVE. 

The  wants  of  the  laboring  classes  in  this  country  aie  few.  Exempt 
by  the  tropical  r.liuiate  from  any  care  or  preparation  for  winter,  the 
laborer  needs  no  fuel  to  promote  warmth,  nor  a  habitation  to  keep  out 
tlie  cold.  A  roof  and  walls  to  exclude  the  sun  and  rain  are  all  he  needs 
for  a  house  ;  a  shirt  of  coarse  cotton  cloth  with  jiautaloons  of  the  same 
material,  and  a  hat,  suffice  for  clothing;  shoes  are  not  required. 

The  working  i>eoi)le  live  largely  upon  vsoup  made  from  a  little  meat 
and  vegetables ;  they  also  eat  bananas  and  plantains,  beans,  Indian 
corn  or  maize,  raised  in  the  country,  rice,  and  salt  tish.  Bananas  and 
plantains  cost  from  1  to  2  cents  each,  as  they  are  plentiful  or  otherwise; 
beef  is  from  14  to  19  cents  a  pound  ;  salt  fish,  9^  to  14  cents;  beans, 
when  plentiful,  5  cents  a  i>ound ;  maize,  from  1  to  2^  cents ;  rice,  5 
cents  a  pound. 

WAGES   PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

As  far  as  I  am  able  to  learu,  the  rate  of  wages  at  present  paid  in  this 
country  is  about  the  same  in  the  cities  and  towns  as  it  was  in  1878,  but 
in  the  country,  on  the  estates,  wages  are  lower  now  than  in  1878. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  working  classes  here  are  for  the  most  part  trustworthy.  All  the 
testimony  on  that  branch  of  the  subject  is  the  sarue.  In  illustration  it 
is  stated  that  postmen  who  for  years  have  traveled  on  horse!»ack  over 
lonely  roads,  and  who  often  carry  large  sums  of  money  with  them  for 
merchants  or  others,  have  never  been  robbed.  The  muleteers  who  drive 
the  donkeys  or  carts  with  merchandise  between  different  points,  are 
often  intrusted  witli  snmsof  money  to  carry  by  parties  to  wiiom  they  are 
strangers  and  to  whom  their  names  are  not  even  known;  the  simple  fact 
that  they  are  muleteers  and  going  to  any  given  point  is  enough,  and 
they  faithfully  deliver  at  its  destination  the  money  which  they  have  had 
in  charge. 

The  working  classes  in  this  country  are  not  saving.  On  the  contrary 
they  are  exceedingly  improvident.  Many  are  addicted  to  drinking  and 
gaml)ling.  As  has  been  stated,  their  wants  are  few  and  easily  supplied, 
and  they  spend  their  money  quickly  after  earning  it.  On  this  point,  too, 
the  testimony  all  agrees.  Said  oni'  emi)loyer  to  me,  "  If  they  are  paid 
on  Saturday  night  their  money  is  gone  on  Monday  morning." 

PEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  is  kind  on  the  part  of  the  employer,  and  independent  on 
the  part  of  the  emi)loye. 

No  organization  of  labor  exists  here. 
Strikes  are  unknown  in  this  country. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA.  197 

FOOD  PURCHASES. 

The  laborer  buys  wherever  he  chooses,  No  couditious  are  imposed 
by  the  eini)loyers.  The  hiborers  are  paid  by  tlie  week — every  Saturday 
uight.  They  are  oenerally  paid  in  silver — Veiiezuehm  aud  other  dollars 
and  fractional  parts  of  dollars. 

There  are  no  co  operative  societies  in  this  country. 

GENERAL   CONHTTTON  <>F  THE  WORKING  PEOPLE. 

The  climate  is  such  they  do  not  need  the  same  shelter  or  clothing  as 
those  who  live  in  colder  climes.  Their  food  is  healthful  and  oenerally 
abundant.  As  a  whole,  the  workin<;  classes  in  this  country  are  a  sim- 
ple people,  of  kind  disposition,  and  trustworthy  ;  but  they  are  ignorant, 
and  their  life  generally  is  on  a  very  low  plane  in  the  scale  of  humanity. 

Part  II. — Female  Labor. 

NUMBER  OF  FEMALE  EMPLOYES. 

There  are  not  many  women  or  children  iir  this  district  employed  in 
industrial  pursuits. 

Cotton  mill  in  Valencia. — In  the  city  of  Valencia  there  is  a  cotton 
factory,  or  weaving  establishment  as  it  is  called,  where  quite  a  number 
of  M'omen  are  employed.  Valencia  is  a  city  of  from  25,000  to  30,000 
inhabitants,  and  is  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Carabobo,  in  which  State 
is  Puerto  Cabello.  This  factory  was  started  by  Senor  Domingo  A. 
Ulavarria,  manager  of  the  Bank  of  Carabobo ;  but  at  first  it  was  not 
successful,  owing  to  the  cost  of  the  machinery  and  exi)ense  of  putting 
it  up,  «&c.  It  was  subsequently  sold  at  a  reduced  piice  to  a  company, 
and  when  I  \  isited  the  establishment  recently  it  was  said  to  be  run- 
ning on  a  paying  basis.  The  cotton  used  in  this  factory  is  grown  in  the 
vicinity.  From  this  cotton  is  manufactured  a  coarse  but  strong  and 
durable  cotton  cloth,  which  is  used  by  the  people  of  the  country  for 
shirting,  sheets,  &c.  They  also  manufacture  a  coarser  cloth,  which  is 
used  for  making  into  cheap  shoes,  or  sandals — shoes  that  retail  for  38 
cents  a  pair.  As  many  as  one  hundred  hands,  chiefly  women  and  chil- 
dren, have  been  emi)loyed  at  one  time  at  this  establishment.  At  the 
time  of  my  visit  the  tbrce  was  about  seventy  hands.  All  the  o})era fives 
at  the  looms  are  women  and  boys,  the  boys  being  for  the  most  part 
tenders,  or  assistants,  to  the  women.  The  women  who  liave  become 
skilled  at  the  work  are  paid  38  cents  a  day,  United  States  currency,  for 
their  work;  the  boys,  when  they  commence  to  work  at  the  factory,  are 
paid  only  9A  cents  a  day,  and  arepnid  more  as  they  become  more  skilled. 
The  time  for  the  ojjcratives  to  be  at  the  factory  is  from  6  o'clock  in  the 
morning  until  G  in  the  afternoon,  with  one  hour  allowed  for  meals.  The 
engineer  and  foreman  are  paid  from  815.38  to  ."r^30.77  per  month. 

The  establishment  can  turn  out  20  pieces  of  40  yards  each  in  a  day. 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL   CONDITION   OF   FEMALE   EMPLOYES. 

To  the  interrogatories  in  regard  to  the  moral  and  physical  condition 
of  such  emi)loyes,  the  means  i)rovided  for  their  improvement,  the  means 
provided  in  case  of  fire  or  other  dangers,  and  what  provisions  are  made 
by  the  employers  in  regard  to  sanitary  measures,  and  for  the  care  of 
the  sick  and  disabled,  I  reply :  The  women  and  children  seemed  in  good 


198 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


health,  aud  appeared  bright  and  cheerful.  They  compared  favorably 
in  appearance  in  these  respects  with  operatives  of  a  similar  class  in 
the  United  States.  No  children,  however,  should  be  allowed  to  work 
in  any  factor^-.  The  factory  is  all  on  the  ground  floor,  so  that,  of  course, 
the  same  necessity  does  not  exist  for  providing  means  of  exit  in  case 
of  lire  as  for  factories  of  several  stories.  There  are  no  means  of  im- 
provement provided  for  these  operatives,  and  there  are  no  provisions 
made  in  regard  to  sanitary  measures  or  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and  dis- 
abled. 

Women  in  hat  factory. — The  firm  of  Sandoval  &  Co.,  in  Valencia,  hat- 
ters, who  manufacture  felt  hats,  out  of  a  force  of  from  sixty  to  seventy 
hands — men,  women,  andboys — in  April  last,  employed  fourteen  women. 
These  women  were  paid  48  cents  a  day.  The  working  hours  at  this 
establishment  are  from  (5^  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  12  at  noon,  and 
from  1  to  5^  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Women  cigar-makers. — Quite  a  number  of  women  in  Puerto  Cabello 
gain  their  livelihood  by  making  cigars  and  cigarettes.  Some  of  them 
purchase  the  tobacco  and  manufacture  the  cigars  and  cigarettes,  others 
work  for  cigar  manufacturers. 

A'CKNOWLEDaMENTS. 

In  obtaining  information  for  this  report  I  am  indebted  to  General 
Joaquin  Berrio,  president  of  the  State  of  Carabobo,  and  to  Senor  Do- 
mingo A.  Olavarria,  of  Valencia,  manager  of  the  Bank  of  Carabobo.  I 
have  also  received  valuable  assistance  in  obtaining  rates  of  wages,  «&c., 
from  WiUiam  Von  der  Brelje,  esq.,  of  Puerto  Cabello,  who  has  been  for 
thirty  years  a  resident  of  this  country. 

EDWARD  E.  WHITE. 

('onsnl. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Puerto  Cabello,  June  10,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

[In  converting  Venezuelan  into  American  values  in  the  followin}?  tables,  the  Venezuelan  dollar  was 
estimated  at  76.92  cents,  and  the  Venezuelan  real  at  9.6  cents  United  States  currency.] 


Wages  paid  per  week  in  Puetto  Cabello. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average. 


BUILDING   TRADES. 


$6  90 
4  62 
6  90 
2  28 
6  90 
4  62 
6  90 
4  62 
4  62 

*  1  79 
8  04 
6  90 
4  62 
13  86 
4  62 

t  1  15 

.$11  .52 
5  70 
11  52 

4  62 
11  .52 

5  76 
9  24 

5  76 
11  52 

*  3  59 
]3  86 

6  90 
6  90 

13  86 
11  52 

$8  04 

5  04 

8  46 

3  43 

8  04 

Tenders 

5  04 

7  50 

Tendois 

5  04 

6  48 

OTHEK  TltAUES. 

*  2  42 

9  66 

Strikers 

6  90 

6  24 

Butchers 

13  86 

Cabinet-makers 

6  48 

Cigai'-makers 

*  And  found. 


t  Per  thousand  cigars. 


1  Per  hundred  cigars. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


199 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

There  is  in  Valencia,  in  this  consular  district,  a  cotton  factory  con- 
cernini;  which  details  are  given  in  the  body  of  this  report. 

In  the  Puerto  Cabello  there  is  a  SDap  and  candle  factory  where  a 
small  number  of  hands  are  employed.  The  average  rate  of  wages  paid 
is  96  cents  i)er  day. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

The  firm  of  Winckelmann  Brothers,  a  German  firm  in  Valencia,  in  tliis 
consular  district,  have  a  machine  shop,  an  iron-foundry,  and  wheel- 
wright establishment  in  one.  They  employ  44  men  in  the  shops,  but 
have  about  100  men  altogether  employed,  including  those  em])loyed  in 
cutting  wood,  driving  mules,  &c.  The  44  men  employed  in  the  shops 
are  paid  as  follows:  Lowest  wages,  $1.15  a  day;  highest  wages,  $1.91{a 
day;  average  wages,  $1.35  a  day. 

This  firm  is  allowed  by  the  Venezuelan  Government  to  import  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  raw  iron  each  year  free  of  duty. 

Messrs.  Wittstein  &  Co.  have  a  machine  sho^)  and  foundry  in  Puerto 
Cabello.  At  present  they  have  employed  only  about  10  or  15  hands. 
The  lowest  wages  are  90  cents  a  day ;  highest  wages,  $1.54  a  day;  aver- 
age wages,  $1.15  a  day. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

JVages  paid  per  month  to  seanun  {officers  and  nun)  engaged  in  navigation  on  the  coast  of 

Venezuela. 


Occapations. 

Lowest. 

H 

ghest. 

BTEAHERS. 

$61  54 
30  77 

Mate 

11  55 

Do 

9  23 

92  31 

38  46 

23  08 

Do 

19  23 

Captain 



SAILING  VESSBI^. 

$23 
13 

7 

08 
85 
09 

46  15 

Mate 

19  23 

SailorB , --  -  -     --  -- 

10  77 

X.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores,  wholesale  and  retail,  to  males,  in  Puerto  Cabello. 


Occapations. 


Wholesale  stores 

Ketail  stores  or  shops . 


Lowest.  I  Highest.  Average. 


76  92  i     $192  30         $115  38 
7  69  I        30  77  12  69 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  (toivns  and  cities)  in  the  consular  district  of 

Puerto  Cabello. 


Occupations. 

Lowest 

Highest. 

AverajTP. 

Hoasehold  servants ... 

$3  08 

$7  69 

$6  12 

200 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Agricultural  laborers  are  i)aid  by  the  piece.  A  certain  amount  of 
work  is  allotted  tliem,  for  which  they  are  each  paid  58  cents.  In  the 
vicinity  of  Puerto  Cabello  this  is  generally  a  day's  work,  though  some 
laborers  perform  more  work  and  consequently  receive  more  pay.  In 
the  interior,  on  more  elevated  land,  where  it  is  cooler,  the  laborers  can 
perform  more  work,  and  some  do.  It  may  be  stated  in  general  terms 
that  the  wages  of  agricultural  laborers  are  from  58  cents  to  96  cents  per 
day,  without  board,  in  the  vicinity  of  cities  and  towns.  In  the  interior 
a  less  rate  by  the  piece  is  paid. 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Sularies  paid  per  month  to  corporation  employes  in  the  municipality  of  Puerto  Cabello. 


Occupations. 


1  civil  chief 

1  secretary 

1  clerk  of  council 

1  porter 

1  secretary  of  council , 

1  administrator  of  municipal  taxes 

1  booklieeper 

1  clerk 

1  chief  of  the  police  guard 

18  members  of  the  police  guard,  each  . . , 

8  chiefs  of  municipalities  (lesser  munici- 
pnlities  all  comprising  the  municipal- 
ity of  Puerto  Cabello),  each 

]  prefect  of  the  market  place 


Salary. 


$115  38 
46  15 
30  77 
26  92 
76  92 
123  08 
46  15 
23  08 
46  15 
30  77 


15  38 
30  77 


Occupations.  Salary. 


1  warden  of  the  market  place $30  77 

1  warden  of  the  cemetery  26  92 

1  warden  of  the  prison 23  08 

1  warden  of  the  aqueduct 23  08 

1  first  master  of  public  works 19  23 

1  warden  of  plaza  "Guzman  Blanco"..'  34  62 

1  warden  of  plaza  "Concordia" '  23  08 

3  school  teachers  (male),  each i  61  54 

3  school  teachers  (female),  each..   \  38  46 

6  school  teachers  (male),  ea  h '  23  08 

6  school  teachers  (female),  each 23  08 

1  suijerintendent  of  schools i  50  00 

1  city  physician |  23  08 

1  physician  for  hospital 15  38 


Monthly  i^alaries  of  custom-house  (Officials  and  wages  of  laborers  hi  the  consular  district  of 
Puerto  Cabello,  Venezuela, per  month. 


Occupations. 


MARITIME  CUSTOM.HOU.sk. 

Collector  of  customs 

Second  collector  of  customs 

Clerk  of  liquidation       . — 

Second  clerk  of  liquidation  

Cashier     

Bookkeeper 

Clerk  of  coasting  trade 

Clerk  of  weights   ...    

storekeeper 

Clerk  of  correspondence  and  archives  . 

InteipretcT 

Physician  of  public  health 

Porter 

First  commander  of  coast  guard     

Second  commander  of  coast  guard 

Commander  of  coast  guard  in  Tucacas. 
Commander  of  coast  guard  in  Yaracuy  . 
5  corporals  of  the  guard  in  Puerto  Ca- 
bello, each 

2  corporals  of  the  guard  in  Yaracuy  . . . 
1  corporal  of  the  guard  in  Tucacas 


Salary. 

$184  62  1 

123  08  ! 

115  39 

76  92  I 

92  31  ' 

92  31 

76  92 

76  92 

76  92  1 

43  08 

43  01 

23  08 

25  64 

92  31  , 

76  92 

51  28 

51  28  1 

38  47  \ 

26  92 

26  92 

Occupations. 


Makitime  custom-house — Continued.  I 

36  wardens  of  the  guard  iu  Puerto  Ca- 
bello. each 

12  wardens  of  the  guard  in  Yaracuy  and 
Tucacas,  each ! 

25  boatmen  in  Yaracuy  and  Tucacas,  i 
each ; 

2  chiefs  of  laborers  of  custom-house,  i 
each 

2  overseersof  laborers  of  custom-house,  I 
each 

101)  laborers  of  custom-house,  each i 

Judge  of  the  public  treasure  

Secretary I 

Porter  . ." 

ADUNATKRRESTRE  INLAN1> CUSTOM-HOUSE. 

Collector  of  customs 

Bookkeeper 

Clerk 

Porter 


Sala>-y. 


$30  77 

23  08 

23  08 

76  92 

46  16 
38  4? 
92  35 
46  16 
19  23 


123  08 
61  54 
38  47 
19  23 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    VENEZUELA. 


•201 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Yearly  salaries  paid  to  members  of  the  State  legi'^lature,  Government  officials,  tj'c-,  «'"   *'<« 
State  of  Varubobo,  in  the  consular  ditsirict  of  Puerto  Cahello,  f'ene:uela. 


STATE   LKGI8LATUUK. 

14  deputies  from  thf  T  districts  of  the 
State  paid  for  a  session  of  40  days 
(19.3  cents  each  per  flay) each . 

KXECUTIVE   KUANCII. 


President  of  the  State 

Secretary  general 

First  officii*! 

3  officials  each.. 

Official  in  charge  of  statistics 

3  counselors  of  admiiiistration  ..each.. 
Amanuensis 


Civil,  AUTHORITIES. 

7  civil  chiefs  of  districts 

7  secretaries 


$2,  81U  OS 

3,  242  40 
2, 316  00 
1, 158  00 
1,  667  52 

555  84 
3,  800  88 

370  56 

4,215  12 
1,  945  44 

1  secretary 

1  Judge  of  the  first  instance  of  the  sec- 
ouddistrict 

1  secretary  

1  judge  of  the  first  instance  of  the 
third  district 

1  secretary 

Judge  of  the  district  of  Valencia 

Judgi-  of  the  district  of  Puerto  Cabello 

2  secretaries 

5  judges  of  the  districts  of  Nirgua. 

Bejuma.    Monsalban,   Giiatare,  and 

Ocumare   

5  secretai  ies 

Attorney  general: 

First  district 

Secoud  district 


JUDiriAI.  AUTH01UTIE6. 

6  ministers  (judges)  of  the  supreme 
court    

2  lirst  officials 

1  judge  of  the  first  instance,  criminal 
cases    

1  secretary  

1  judge  of  the  first  instance  of  the 
first  district 


7,781  76 
1,  296  96 


1,482  24 
741  12 


I  PUBLIC  INSTRUCTION. 

i|  6  teachers  (male)  of  the  schools  Cate- 
1      dral,     Sta.    Kosa,    Candelaria,    Los 

Gayos,  Puerto  Cabello,  N'irgna 

4  teachers  (male)  of  the  schools  Belen, 

Cu j'agua,  Agnirre,  Cedeiio 

1  teacher  (male)  of  the  school  El  Olivo. 
I  Night  school  for  artisans  in  Puerto 
:       Cabello 


741  12 


1, 389  60 
694  80 

1,  019  04 
579  00 

1, 019  04 
926  40 

1,  111  68 


2,  779  20 
1,  621  20 


1, 158  00 
926  40 


2,  223  36 

1,111  68 
231  60 

185  28 


1,389  60  Ij 

I 


XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  hi/  the  month  to  laborers  in  Hover  nment   employ   in  the  to  nsular  district  of 

Puerto  Cabello. 


Occupations. 


Poiter  employed  at  the  capitol  in  Va- 
lencia   

Porter  employed  in  charge  of  the  gar- 
dens al  the'capitol 

2  porters  at  supreme  court each. 

1  porter  at  court  of  first  instance     .  - . 

1  porter  at  court  of  first  instance,  first 
district , 


Average 
wages. 


Occnpations. 


1  porter  at  court  of  first  instance,  sec- 

$23  16  1        ond  district 

!■  1  porter  at  court  of  first  instance,  third 

30  88]       district 

19  30  i   2  porters  at  district  courts  of  Valencia 

19  30  j       and  Puerto  Cabello each.. 

1    5  porters  at  other  district  courts. each. . 
19  30 


I  Average 


$19  30 
15  44 


15  44 

7  72 


202  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRITISH    GUIANA. 


REPORT  BY  CONSUL  FIGYELMESY. 

The  rates  of  wages  paid  to  laborers  in  this  colony  are  contained  in 
the  tabular  forms. 

COST   OF  LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  agricultural  laboring  class  is  as  follows : 

Coolie  laborers. — The  coolie  laborer  indentured  for  five  years  spends 
from  50  cents  to  60  cents  per  week  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  say  for  food, 
consisting  of  rice,  eurry,  tumeric,  and  ghee  or  native  butter,  and  drinking 
cocoanut  toddy,  saving  most  of  their  earnings,  consequently  living  nig- 
gardly, their  clothing  being  only  a  muslin  or  calico  turban  for  the  head, 
and  a  simple  cloth  folded  round  the  loins,  commonly  called  "baba,"  the 
other  parts  of  their  body  being  nude;  they  are  comfortably  lodged,  and 
have  medical  attendance  and  medicine  supplied  to  them  free  of  expense 
by  the  plantation  on  which  they  work.  These  laborers,  after  five  years' 
service,  and  being  employed  for  five  years  more  as  free  immigrants,  are 
entitled  to  return  passages  to  India ;  they  often  remit  or  take  with  them 
from  $50,000  to  $60,000  in  money  and  jewelry— each  batch  of  300  to 
400 — which  they  accumulate  during  that  time  ;  some  2,000  to  3,000  im- 
migrants arrive  annually,  and  about  1,500  to  1,800  depart.  The  free  or 
unindentured  coolie  laborer  lives  on  the  same  food  as  the  indentured 
coolie,  is  clothed  in  the  same  manner,  but  chooses  to  lodge  wherever  he 
likes  in  town  or  counliy,  renting  a  small  room  at  $1.50  to  $2  per  month, 
in  which  three  to  four  dwell. 

Chinese  and  Portuguese  laborers. — The  Chinese  and  Portuguese  labor- 
ers spend  from  32  to  48  cents  per  day  for  food,  consisting  of  both  fresh 
and  salt  meat,  poultry,  and  fish;  for  vegetables  they  use  pumpkins,  cab- 
bages, rice,  onions,  garlic,  and  potatoes ;  tea  and  coffee  being  their 
principal  beverage.  They  clothe  and  house  better  than  the  former,  and 
save  money. 

Native  laborers. — The  Creole  or  native  laborer  spends  from  24  to  32 
cents  per  day  for  food,  consisting  of  salted  codfish,  pickled  mackerel, 
herrings,  beef,  pork ;  and  for  vegetables,  plantains,  yams,  potatoes,  rice, 
corn,  and  cornmeal ;  wheat  flour,  butter,  oil,  lard,  and  sugar  are  used 
for  culinary  purposes.  These  laborers  are  very  much  addicted  to  drink- 
ing strong  spirits.  Their  clothing  is  made  of  cotton  and  woolen  cloth, 
from  8  cents  to  20  cents  per  yard  ;  house  rent  from  $2  to  $4  per  month 
for  one  tenement  built  to  hold  two  persons,  but  in  which  are  crowded 
together  some  six  to  eight,  including  children — hence  all  kinds  of  sick- 
ness. 

Tradesmen  and  clerics. — Tradesmen,  operatives,  and  clerks,  earning 
more  money,  live  very  well  at  from  $1  to  $3  per  day  for  the  necessaries 
of  life  in  food  and  clothing,  and  for  house  rent  from  $10  to  $30  per 
month. 

WAGES  PAST    AND   PRESENT. 

The  same  rates  of  wages  prevail  here  now  as  in  1878. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRITISH    GUIANA.  203 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 

The  coolies,  Chinese,  and  Portuguese  are  industrious  and  save  money, 
but  the  Creoles,  or  natives,  and  inimigrants  from  the  West  India  islands, 
are  indolent  to  a  great  extent,  which  affects  their  habits  for  evil. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  which  prevails  between  employe  and  employer:  If  the  em- 
ployer is  kind,  generous,  and  liberal,  it  affects  the  employe  to  energy, 
honesty,  and  general  good  feeling  throughout  the  community ;  but  if 
the  employer  is  unkind,  strict  in  rules,  and  exacting,  it  affects  the  em- 
ploy^  to  negligence  and  ill  teeling. 

ORGANIZED   CONDITION   OF  LABOR. 

There  is  no  organised  condition  of  labor  in  this  colony.  Strikes  do 
not  prevail. 

FOOD  PURCHASES. 

The  working  people  are  free  to  purchase  wherever  they  choose.  The 
laborer  is  paid  weekly  in  dollars  and  cents. 

CO  OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

The  societies  formed  in  this  colony  are  as  follows :  The  Portuguese 
Benevolent  Society,  which  is  the  largest  and  most  prosperous ;  entrance 
fee,  $4.80;  one-half  to  be  paid  on  admission  and  the  other  half  to  be  paid 
in  live  months  after  in  monthly  installments  of  48  cents  per  month,  and 
24  cents  contribution,  besides,  to  be  paid  regularly  every  week.  A  mem- 
ber of  one  year's  standing  falling  ill  is  entitled  to  medical  attendance, 
medicines,  and,  in  case  of  death,  a  decent  burial ;  a  member  of  two 
years'  standing  falling  ill  is  entitled  to  medical  attendance,  medicines, 
and  $10  per  month  ])ecuniary  relief,  and,  in  case  of  death,  a  decent 
burial ;  a  member  of  three  years'  standing  is  entitled  to  medical  attend- 
ance when  ill,  medicines,  and  $15  per  month  pecuniary  relief,  and,  in 
case  of  death,  a  decent  burial ;  members  of  four  years'  standing  are  each 
entitled  to  medical  attendance  when  ill,  medicines,  and  $18  per  month 
pecuniary  relief,  and,  in  case  of  death,  a  decent  burial.  Widows  of 
members  are  each  entitled  to  $10  per  month  pecuniary  relief,  and  where 
a  widow  has  more  than  one  child,  $15  per  month  pecuniary  relief  is  al- 
lowed for  tive  years. 

Children  of  members  who  have  lost  both  parents  are  entitled  to  re- 
ceive $5  per  month,  each,  until  they  attain  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

The  other  societies  are:  The  Friendly;  the  Guild ;  the  Mechanics; 
the  Hand  of  Justice ;  the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul;  the  Foresters  No.  1 ;  and 
the  Foresters  No.  2. 

These  last  seven  societies  are  in  connection  with  the  Anglican,  the . 
Scotch,  Koman  Catholic,  and  ^Methodist  churches,  and  though  less  pros- 
perous than  the  Portuguese  Benevolent  Society,  are  founded  on  the 
same  basis,  and  guaranteeing  similar  relief. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  general  condition  of  the  working  people  is  with  the  coolies, 
Chinese,  and  Portuguese  laborers,  better  than  the  Creoles,  or  natives, 


204  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRITISH    GUIANA. 

auil  laborers  from  the  ueighboriug  islands,  as  the  fonuer  three  manage 
to  save  money  with  the  prospect  of  returning  to  their  countries  to  en- 
joy it,  while  the  two  latter  spend  all  their  earnings,  and  never  have  a 
thought  of  laying  by  one  cent  for  sickness,  old  age,  distress,  or  death; 
their  ultimate  report,  when  incapable  of  working,  being  the  public  hos- 
pital or  almshouse. 

SAFETY   OF  EMPLOYES. 

There  are  no  means  furnished  for  the  safety  of  employes.  In  case  of 
accident  the  working  people  are  taken  to  the  public  hospitals  on  the 
X)lantations  or  in  the  city  of  Georgetown,  where  every  care  is  taken  of 
them  at  the  expense  of  the  Government. 

MORAL    AND   PHYSICAL   WELL-BEINO. 

The  moral  and  physical  well  being  of  the  employes  have  no  consid- 
eration with  the  employers.  In  some  instances  confidence  is  placed  in 
the  employe,  in  others  not. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

Workmen  possess  no  political  rights  here,  and  have  no  influence  on 
legislation ;  they  bear  their  portion  of  the  duty  levied  on  imports  of 
provisions,  clothing,  &c.,  but  no  direct  tax.  The  tendency  of  legislation 
in  regard  to  labor  is  chiefly  to  encourage  immigration  from  other  coun- 
tries. 

CAUSES   OF   IMMIGRATION. 

The  causes  which  lead  to  the  immigration  of  the  working  i)eople  to 
this  colony  are  their  poverty,  starvation,  and  not  being  able  to  obtain 
work  in  their  native  countries,  and  the  scarcity  of  Creole  laborers  in  this 
colony  ;  also  the  high  rate  of  wages  offered  here,  which  induce  coolies, 
Chinese,  and  Portuguese  to  emigrate. 

The  principal  occupations  of  the  laborers  here  are  working  on  the 
plantations — sugar-cane  and  others — and  many,  after  their  time  of  serv- 
ice have  expired,  and  have  saved  money,  either  return  to  their  native 
countries  or  settle  here  and  open  business  of  all  kinds. 

NUMBER  OF  FEMALE  EMPLOYES. 

Children,  uoue  ;  women  in  luechanical  anil  manufacturing  pursuits,  none;  in  com- 
mercial jjursuits,  none;  in  personal,  see  Tal)le  No.  X;  as  clerks,  see  Table  No.  IX; 
as  teachers,  see  Table  No.  I;  as  artijits,  none  ;  as  chemists,  none  ;  as  hotel  and  board- 
ing-house keepers,  (i;  as  journalists,  none;  as  laundresses,  cannot  be  accurately  as- 
certained, as  nearly  every  female  of  the  laboring  class  is  a  laundress  :  as  musicians, 
6;  as  inventois,  none;  as  bankers,  none;  as  brokers,  none;  as  lecturers,  none;  as 
public  speakers,  none;  as  agriculturists,  cannot  be  accurately  ascertained  ;  m  min- 
ing pur.snits,  none. 

FEMALE   WAGES. 

There  are  from  three  to  four  domestic  servants  generally  employed 
in  every  large  house,  working  from  10  to  11  hours  daily.  For  their 
wages,  see  Table  No.  X,  a(,*companying. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRITISH    GUIANA.  205 

MORAL   AND    PHYSICAL   CONDITION   OF   FEMALE   EMPLOY:6s. 

Moral  condition  bad  ;  physical  (condition  of  some  is  good,  and  of  robust 
and  bealthy  constitutions,  of  great  endurance  aiul  etficiency  as  servants, 
while  others  are  indifferent  and  inefticient.  Domestic  servants  as  a 
class  are  fair,  ami  generally  answer  the  requirements. 

MEANS   FOR    IMPROVEMENT. 

No  means  provided  other  than  there  are  upwards  of  forty  churches, 
school-houses,  meeting-houses,  &c.,  of  all  denominations,  in  this  colony, 
but  which  have  little  or  no  effect  in  counteracting  the  immorality  which 
prevails  to  the  greatest  extent.  1  may  here  state  that  on  this  account 
the  i)risons  are  crowded. 

SAFETY  OF  EMPLOYES. 

There  is  a  very  eflicient  lire-brigade  here  under  the  superiutendeuce 
of  the  inspector  general  of  the  police  force,  which  works  admirably  and 
answers  every  emergency. 

CARE   OF   SICK   AND   DISABLED. 

There  are  no  provisions  made  by  the  employer  iu  regard  to  these 
measures,  but  the  colony  is  under  the  control  of  a  board  of  health  ami 
sanitary  superintendents;  the  latter  visit  all  over  the  colonj-  periodically 
and  cause  it  to  be  cleansed  from  all  im])urities  and  infectious  matter. 
Public  hospitals  and  almshouses  are  provided  for  the  sick  and  disabled, 
which  are  kept  up  at  the  expense  of  the  Grovernment. 

FEMALE   WAGES   PAST   AND   PRESENT. 

There  has  been  no  increase  during  the  past  five  years  in  the  wages 
paid  to  women.  The  employment  of  women  has  no  effect  on  the  wages 
of  men,  as  women  are  generally  allotted  to  lighter  tasks  in  agriculture 
thau  men;  therefore  the  effects,  if  any,  are  rather  beneficial,  causing 
both  male  and  female  to  obtain  labor. 

FEMALE   EDUCATION. 

Some  of  the  women  are  entirely  uneducated,  others  partly  educated, 
but  the  children  by  a  compulsory  law  of  this  colony,  which  enforces 
very  strict  measures  on  the  parents  if  the  children  are  not  put  to  school, 
are  being  educated. 

This  system  of  education  is  entirely  new  to  the  laboring  class,  being 
only  established  about  four  years.  It  may  have  a  good  effect  in  the 
future,  but  at  present  1  could  not  offer  an  opinion  on  it. 

PH.  FiaYP]LMESY, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Demerara,  June  16,  1884. 


206  labor  in  south  america  :  british  guiana. 

1.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TBADB6. 


Brictlayers 

Hod-tarriers . 
Masons 

Tenders    

Plasterers  

Tenders 

Slaters 

Roofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers   

Assistants . . . 

Carpentei-8 

Gas-fitters ... 


OTHER  TRADES. 


Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookbinders 

Butchers 

Brass-founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Coopers 

Drivers : 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab. 

Carriage 

Tram-car 

Gardeners : 

Women 

Men 

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborer.*,  porters,  &c 

Teachers  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers  . 

Sailmakers 

Stevedores* 

Tailors , 

Telegraph  operators 

Tin8mitli.«i 


Hours 
per  day. 

Lowest. 

9 

$4  80 

9 

1  92 

9 

6  00 

9 

1  92  : 

!    9 

6  00  ; 

1    3 

1  92  i 

9 

4  80  i 

1    9 

4  80  1 

9 

2  88 

9 

7  20 

9 

1  20 

1    3 

4  80 

1    9 

6  00 

I 

12 

4  00 

9 

4  00 

1    9 

1  92 

1    9 

4  00 

10 

4  00 

9i 

3  24 

9 

5  00  : 

11 

1  92 

10 

1  92 

12 

3  36 

12 

2  40 

16J 

3  00 

H 

1  44 

9J 

1  92 

9 

8  00 

9 

2  40 

10 

3  84 

5 

75 

9 

4  00 

9 

9  50 

10 

3  00 

11 

3  84 

10 

3  84  1 

Highest. 


.?7  20 
3  36 

'7  92 
3  36 
7  92 
3  30 
7  20 

7  20 

3  84 
10  08 

4  16 
6  48 

8  40 


15  00 

10  00 

2  88 

20  00 

7  00 
40  00 
12  00 
10  00 

2  88 
6  00 
6  00 

3  00 

1  44 

4  80 

8  00 
12  00 

3  84 
12  50 
10  00 
12  00 


Average. 


10  00 

38  46 

9  00 


$6  00 
2  64 
6  96 
2  64 
6  96 

2  64 
6  00 

6  00 

3  36 
8  64 
2  70 
5  76 

7  32 


6  08 

7  00 
2  40 
9  50 

5  00 
11  50 

6  40 
4  09 

2  30 
4  80 
4  12 

3  00 

1  44 
3  30 

8  00 
8  20 
3  84 

6  62 

7  24 
10  18 


5  00 
8  40 
7  80 


*  These  are  not  paid  per  week,  but  have  special  charges,  viz:  For  sugar  hogsheads,  20  cents  each; 
tierces,  16;  barrels,  8;  bags,  6.    Bum  buns,  16;  hogsheads,  12;  barrels,  8. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  Jifty-eight  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


Match-making 
Box-making 


1  00 


$25  00 
4  32 


Average. 


$4  72 
1  26 


III.  Foundries,  machine  shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty- four  and  one-half  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron 

works  in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


Brass  and  iron  founders. 
Smiths 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRITISH    GUIANA. 


207 


VI.  Railway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  railway  employes  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  4'c.)  in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 

'  Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$7  50 

$12  50 

15  00 

8  00 

5  00 

3  84 

$9  43 

10  00 

12  50 

7  50 

7  75 

4  40 

4  T7 

3  84 

3  84 

/ 

VII.  Ship-yaeds  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  pei-  week  of  fifty -four  and  one-half  hours  in  ship-yards  {wood  ship-building)  in 

British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


Ship-carpenters . 
Apprentices 


$f  5C 
60 


Average. 


$15  00  I       $12  40 
8  12  I  1  98 


There  are  no  iron  ships  bnilt  here. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  betivan  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam — in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


Ocean : 

Sailing 

Steaming... 
Coast : 

bailing 

Steaming... 
River  steaming  . 


Lowest.     Highest. 


$9  60       $100  00 
11  20         120  00 


Average. 


$35  00 
45  60 


10  00 
15  00 
15  00 


40  00  14  00 

50  00  24  50 

50  00  24  50 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in  British  Chiiana. 


Occnpations. 


Wholesale: 
Males  . . . 

Retail : 

Males  ... 
Females 


Lowest.  '  Highest. 


Average. 


.$25  00       $150  00 


10  00 
3  00 


50  00 
7  50 


$45  00 


22  50 
4  50 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  (towws  and  cities)  in  British  Guiana. 


Oconpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest 

Average. 

$6  00 
6  00 
3  00 
3  00 

$15  00 

10  00 

5  00 

6  00 

$10  00 

Cooks                                 

7  20 

4  32 

5  00 

208 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRITISH    GUIANA. 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  agiiciiltural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  British 

Guiana,  with  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Predial :  * 

Cane-cutters 

Shovelraeu 

Weeders 

Suppliers 

Puntmen 

Manufacture : 

Cane  tlnowers 

Boilermen 

Firemen 

Sugar  carers 

Boxmen 

Megass  carriers 

Clarifiers: 

Headmen 

Other  than  headmen 

Distillers 

Others  about  the  buildings. 
Tradesmen : 

Engineers 

Carpenters 

Masons 

Coopers 

Managers  t  

Overseers  t 

Domestics  i 


Lowest. 


$0  24 
40 
24 

32  I 
36  1 

32 

48 
48 
40 
32 
20 
I 

48 
20 

32   ': 

24  \ 

I 

96  ! 

80 

80 

1  20 

2,  400  00 

200  00 

36  00 


Highest. 


$0  80 
60 
32 
60 
60 

40 
56 
80 
54 
40 
24 

48 
24 
48 
32 

2  00 

1  20 

1  20 

1  52 

3,  000  00 

600  00 

144  GO 


Average. 


$0  64 
56 
29 
54 
56 

37 
50 
72 
48 
35 
22 

48 
23 
44 

28 

1  50 

96 

88 

1  24 

2,  700  00 

450  00 

87  60 


*  This  work  is  ordinarily  done  by  task,  and  industrious  coolies  and  blacks  can  earn  more  by  working 
beyond  the  seven  hours  defined  by  law  as  a  day's  work. 

t  These  are  annual  wages,  with  board  and  lodging. 

There  is  really  no  fluctuation  in  the  rate  of  the  foregoing  wages.  A  careful  inquiry  into  the  matter 
has  shown  that  the  total  amount  of  money  paid  away  for  wages  per  annum  is  about  $5,000,000.  The 
falling  off  in  the  supply  of  ininiigrants  has  interfered  with  the  progress  of  the  extension  of  cultivation, 
and  until  there  is  a  considerably  larger  imjiortation  of  immigrant  laborers  the  area  under  canes  is  likely 
to  decrease. 

XII.  Corporation  emploihes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  forlg-nine  and  one-half  hours  to  the  corporation  employe's  in  the  city 
of  (Georgetown,  Denierara,  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


Mechanics 

Engine-drivers 

Firemen  (stoking) 

Masons  and  liricklayers.. 

Carpenters 

Foremen  of  tradesmen  . . . 

Foremen  of  laborers 

Street  labor: 

Men 

Women  

Boys 

Task  gang  labor : 

Digging  canals,  &a;  . . 

Mowing  grass 

Cart  hire : 

Mule,  cart,  and  driver 
Stone  breakers : 

Men  and  women 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$5  28 

$9  50 

$7  39 

4  40 

5  28 

4  84 

2  64 

3  74 

3  19 

5  50 

6  38 

5  94 

4  4U 

6  00 

5  20 

9  00 

12  00 

10  50 

4  00 

4  00 

4  00 

2  64 

2  64 

2  64 

88 

1  76 

1  32 

88 

1  32 

1  10 

2  20 

5  50 

3  85 

2  64 

3  28 

2  96 

9  90 

11  00 

10  45 

84 

3  20 

2  02 

LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRITISH    GUIANA. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 


209 


Wages  paid  per  vionih  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  hours  to  employes  in  Government  depart- 
ments and  offices  (exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers)  in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


Governor  

Private  secretary .   

Admiiiistratoiis-general 

Analytical  chemist 

AuilitorgciU'ials 

Civil  eujiiuoers 

Cominiasiiries 

Crowu  asent 

Customs 


Lowest. 


$50  CO 


60  00 
30  00 
50  00 


Ilarbor-mastor 

Health  orticer.   

Iiuttiigratiuu  agent  at  Calcutta  . 

Iiumigralion   , 

Inspector  of  villages 

Judicial 

Magistrates : 

Special    , 

Stipendiary 

Magistrates'  clerks 

Police  magistrates  

Postal 


12  00 


Provost  marshals     ..   

Registrars  (births  and  deaths) 

Secretaries 

Secretary  to  central  board  of  health. 

Surveyors   

Treasury 


15  00 

200  00 
280  00 
80  00 
40  00 
7  75 
25  00 
50  00 
40  00 


41  67 
20  00 


Highest.   Average, 


$600  00 


400  00 
400  00 
320  00 


400  00 


1,  000  00 

200  00 
320  00 
120  00 
400  00 
250  00 
333  34 
160  00 
600  00 


240  00 
400  00 


$2,  960  00 
120  00 
152  50 
250  00 

140  00 

122  09 

141  00 
40  00 
91  19 

200  00 
125  00 
640  00 

123  06 
250  00 
207  74 

200  00 
286  66 
83  62 
132  50 
21  57 
82  42 
82  85 
180  00 
240  00 
123  12 
106  54 


*  $2,000  salary,  and  for  contingencies  $960. 

Government  institutions. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  hours  to  employes  in  Government  institu- 
tions in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 


Ecclesiastical: 

Church  of  England. 

Church  of  Scotland 

Missionaries        .... 

Koman  ( Catholics *... 

"Wesleyans* 

Dissenters* 

Educational  board  , 

Hospital  

Leper  asylum 

Lunatic  as,\  lum 

Militia 

Orphan  asylum 

Police  force 

Poor-law  board 

Prisons 


Lowest. 


$120  00 
166  67 
120  00 


30  00 
70  00 
30  00 
25  00 
9  00 
10  33 
10  00 
32  00 
10  00 


Highest. 


$800  00 
280  00 
160  00 


400  00 
291  68 

80  00 
320  00 

80  00 
100  00 
400  00 
160  00 
320  00 


Average. 


$177  62 

204  67 

136  00 

12,  000  00 

7,  000  00 

1,  000  CO 

125  72 

149  50 

39  00 

50  88 

17  60 

22  51 

23  25 
38  40 
34  12 


*  This  amount  is  an  annual  grant. 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  week  of  forty-nine  and  one-half  hours  to  the  trades  and  labwers  in  Gov- 
ernment employ  in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$5  28 
6  00 
3  84 
6  48 

$12  00 

8  64 
3  84 

9  00 

$6  62 

6  29 

3  84 

6  90 

3  84 

92  A— 2  LAB 14 


210 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL. 


XY.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  prestmen, 
proofreaders,  ,^-c.)  in  British  Guiana. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$3  25 

2  88 
2  00 

48 

$7  00 
3  12 
2  40 

72 

$6  12 
2  96 

2  18 

64 

BRAZIL. 

RIO  DE  JANEIRO. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL-GENERAL  ANDREWS. 


The  following  is  a  report  on  the  rate  of  wages,  cost  of  living,  &c.,  of 
the  laboring  classes  in  the  city  of  Rio  de  Janeiro,  in  answer  to  the  ques- 
tions contained  in  the  "  Labor  Circular"  of  the  Department  of  State  of 
February  15,  1884 : 

RATES   OF   WAGES. 

The  answer  to  this  question  is  contained  in  the  tables  numbered 
from  I  to  XV. 

COST   OF  living. 

In  the  following  list  is  given  the  lowest  and  highest  price  of  goods  : 


Article. 


Fresh  beef* per  poand . . 

Pork do 

Mutton do 

Dried  salt  meat do 

Dried  codfish do.... 

Coflfee : 

Ground do 

Grain do 

Tea: 

Black do 

Green do 

Butter do 

Cheese do 

Bread do 

Lard: 

American do 

National do 

Black  beans per  pint.. 

White  beans do 

Indian  corn do 

Kice do 

Mandioca  flour do... 

Sugar per  pound.. 

Potatoe.s do 

Bacon do 

Starch  do 

Soap do 

Indian-corn  meal do 

Rice-meal do 

Macaroni do 

Tobacco do 

Salad  oil per  bottle.. 

Lamp  oil do 

Kerosene per  can.. 

Vinegar per  bottle.. 

Boer do 

Wine do 


Lowest      Higheat 
price.  price. 


$0  07 
16 
14 
12 
12 

16 
11 

95 
95 
36 
16 
08 

22 
17 
03 
05 
02 
04 
03 
07 
03 
16 
13 
04 
06 
10 
22 
26 
32 
22 
1  72 
10 
08 
22 


$0  10 
24 
19 
13 
13 

26 
14 

1  06 

2  15 
59 
59 


26 
22 
04  j 


25 
43 
51 
26 

2  15 
16 
43 

4  30 


Article. 


Cognac per  bottle 

Rum  (national) do. . 

Milk per  quart 

Fowls each 

Chickens do.. 

Eggs per  dozen 

Felt  hats each 

Beaver  hats do.. 

Straw  hats do.. 

Suits : 

Black  cloth 

Diagonal 

Kerseymere 

Coats : 

Alpaca 

Drill 

Trousers : 

Black  cloth 

Kerseymere 

Drill,  linen 

Boots per  pair 

Shoes do.. 

Slippers do.. 

Wooden  shoes do.. 

Cotton  socks per  dozen 

Cotton  ^tockings do.. 

Shirts  ' do.. 

Collars do  - . 

Cuffs do.. 

Drawers do. . 

Umbrellas eaeh 

Shirting per  yard 

Print do . . 

Satinet do.. 

Merino do . . 

Silk do.. 

Velvet do.. 


Lowest     Highest 
price.        price. 


$0  63 
13 
12 
86 
26 
32 
2  58 
4  30 

1  29 

25  80 
21  50 
21  50 

2  58 

2  15 

4  30 

3  44 
1  72 

1  72 

2  15 
43 
16 

2  58 

2  58 
15  50 

3  44 
3  44 

15  50 

1  29 
08 
10 
25 
86 
86 

2  15 


$1  72 
16 
14 

1  08 
51 
51 

5  16 

4  73 

2  58 

38  70 
30  10 
30  10 

5  16 

4  30 

8  60 
7  44 
2  58 

7  44 

6  00 

2  15 
75 

3  97 

5  16 
25  80 

4  30 
4  30 

25  80 

8  60 
16 
26 
50 

1  50 

6  45 
4  30 


*  Considerable  waste  meat  is  sold  with  the  parts  that  can  be  consumed, 
of  fiank  accompanies  a  piece  of  sirloin,  and  the  round  is  cut  lengthwise, 
not  much  cheaper  at  Rio  than  in  the  United  States. 


For  example,  a  long  strip 
Actually,  therefore,  beef  is 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL.  211 

As  a  rale,  laborers  who  have  no  family  take  their  meals  in  cheap 
and  very  plain  eating-houses,  termed  "  pasture-houses"  {casa  de  pasto). 
There  with  10  to  16  cents  they  get  a  breakfast  or  a  dinner,  having  for 
breakfast  a  hasli  or  a  stew  with  rice,  mandioca  flour,  bread,  and  mat6 
(a  kind  of  te  i  grown  in  the  south  of  Brazil)  or  coffee ;  for  dinner  they 
can  have  a  soup,  black  beans  with  dried  salt  meat,  and  mandioca  flour, 
a  hash  with  rice,  and  bananas.  The  married  laborers  bring  their  break- 
fast from  home,  and  only  dine  after  the  day's  work  is  over,  at  home. 
Usually  at  4.30  o'clock  the  day's  work  is  finished.  The  chief  support 
of  the  workpeople  is  black  beans,  dried  beef,  dried  codfish,  small  fish 
(such  as  sardines,  which  can  be  got  four  for  1  cent),  mandioca  flour,  rice, 
sweet  potatoes,  bread,  and  coffee  or  mate.  Instead  of  beer  or  wine  they 
take  rum  at  their  dinner,  and  consider  it  very  good  for  helping  the  di- 
gestion. 

As  regards  clothing,  the  women  wear  usually  print  dresses,  or  else  a 
coarse  national  drill,  both  of  which,  comparatively,  may  be  got  cheap. 
The  men  generally  get  their  clothes  in  second-hand  shops,  where  they 
may  obtain — 


Articles. 


Coat,  •woolen  or  kerseymere 

Waistcoat,  woolen  or  kerseymere. 

Trousers,  drill  or  kerseymere 

Shirts,  cotton  or  linen 

Vests,  cotton 

Drawers,  cotton  or  linen 

Hats,  straw  or  telt 

lioots,  new 


The  laboring  class  usually  live  either  in  "  estalagens  "  or  in  "  corticos." 
"Estalagen"  is  the  name  given  to  a  number  of  small  houses  built  to- 
gether, forming  a  square,  rectangle,  or  sometimes  even  occupying  the 
ground  floor  of  a  respectable  dwelling  house.  A  "cortico"  is  where 
these  houses  are  almost  limited  to  one  room  each,  and  have  to  be  reached 
by  a  common  staircase  and  veranda.  A  house  in  an  estalagen  may  be 
rented  for  from  $5.16  to  $8.60  a  month,  whilst  a  dwelling  in  a  cortico 
does  not  exceed  $4.30  and  may  be  had  even  for  $3.44  a  month.  Single 
men  who  hire  only  one  room  pay  from  $2.58  to  $3.44  per  month. 

WAGES,    PAST   AND    PRESENT. 

The  answer  to  this  can  only  be  given  in  general  terms,  namely,  that 
no  marked  change  has  taken  place  between  the  present  rates  and  those 
which  prevailed  in  1878.  The  times,  however,  were  more  flush  in  Kio 
then  than  now. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  working  people  may  be  divided  principally  into  two  parts— the 
native  and  the  Portuguese  elements,  and  the  Italian  element.  The  work- 
ing people  are  chiefly  composed  of  these  three  nationalities.  The  latter 
are  rather  disorderly ;  living  close  together  in  the  corticos,  they  have 
ample  opportunity  ot  quarreling,  and  they  avail  themselves  of  it.  The 
former  are  more  quiet.  As  a  rule  the  working  classes  are  perhaps 
steady,  but  there  are  too  many  Avho  are  not  trustworthy,  and  who  think 
very  little  of  living  in  a  house  two,  three,  or  more  months  without  pay- 


212  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL. 

ing  a  cent  for  it,  until  the  owner  turns  them  out.     Buying  on  credit  at 
the  shops  and  paying  the  seller  with  "  have  patience"  is  too  common. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  general  feeling  prevailing  between  employ^  and  employer  is  that 
of  fear  on  the  part  of  the  employe,  especially  as  regards  those  serving 
corporations.     There  is  certainly  no  marked  sympathy  on  either  side. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS. 

Both  labor  and  capital  appear  to  be  devoid  of  organizations  in  respect 
of  their  relations  to  each  other. 

STRIKES. 

Strikes  are  not  common  and  their  effects  have  been  of  no  importance. 
The  last  strike  on  record,  if  such  it  may  be  called,  was  amongst  the 
laborers  of  the  custom-house;  Government  having  enforced  the  use  of 
a  uniform,  the  laborers  refused  to  go  to  work,  but  were  put  down  by 
military  force  and  obliged  to  wear  the  uniform,  the  cost  thereof  being 
deducted  from  their  salaries. 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

The  working  people  are  free  to  purchase  wherever  they  choose.  They 
are  paid  as  a  rule  every  fifteen  days  in  paj^er  money.  Servants,  clerks 
of  shops,  and  the  higher  officers  are  paid  every  mouth  in  the  same  cur- 
rency. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

There  are  no  cooperative  societies  in  Eio.  There  did  exist  one  once, 
but  it  was  unsuccessful. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  lower  working  class  live  as  described  before.  The  best  of  their 
houses  never  have  more  than  three  rooms,  a  sitting-room,  a  bedroom, 
and  a  kitchen.  The  sitting-room  and  the  bedroom  are  generally  each 
about  10  feet  square,  the  kitchen  much  smaller.  Some  houses  have  no 
kitchen,  in  which  case  they  cook  out  in  the  common  yard.  In  the  sit- 
ting-room are  generally  found  a  pine-wood  table,  wooden  or  sometimes 
cane-seated  chairs,  and  more  rarely  a  sofa,  which  would  be  cane  seated. 
In  the  bedroom  stand  a  bedstead,  an  iron  washstand,  and  perhaps  a 
chest  of  drawers,  and  on  the  walls  may  be  seen  some  cheap  picture  of 
a  saint.  In  the  kitchen  there  are  an  iron  stove  belonging  to  the  house, 
a  water-jar,  and  shelves.  As  a  rule  the  bedroom  is  without  a  window, 
but  there  is  some  opening  at  the  toi)  of  the  wall  for  ventilation.  These 
quarters  are  generally  crowded  and  their  sanitary  condition  poor.  The 
workman  leaves  his  home  for  his  work,  and  the  wife  passes  the  whole 
day  washing  and  ironing.  On  visiting  these  dwellings  one  will  see, 
stretched  across  the  common  yard  in  all  directions,  lines  upheld  by  bam- 
boos, with  linen  hung  thereon  to  dry,  and  the  women  either  at  the 
washing-tub  or  in  their  sitting  rooms  over  the  ironing-table.  The  moral 
condition  of  these  people  is  of  rather  a  low  grade.  As  regards  their 
physical  condition,  the  men  are  as  a  rule  strong  and  enjoy  health,  but 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL.  213 

among  the  women  it  is  otherwise  ;  the  continual  going  and  coming  from 
the  wash-tub  to  the  ironing-board  and  back  again  to  the  washing  soon 
t«lls  upon  them,  and  often  results  in  pulmonary  consumption.  Their 
chance  of  laying  up  for  old  age  or  sickness  is  small ;  however,  one  does 
see  men,  particularly  the  unmarried,  put  themselves  to  all  kinds  of  pri- 
vation and  lay  by  their  money  in  the  savings  bank,  and  sometimes  evea 
acquire  a  fortune  and  afterwards  a  title  of  nobility.  A  short  time  ago 
there  died  here  a  baron  owning  nearly  a  whole  row  of  houses  in  one  of 
the  best  streets  of  the  city,  which  brought  him  in  monthly  the  revenue 
of  $1,720,  and  who  began  his  life  as  a  peddler  of  liver,  tripe,  &c. 

After  the  day's  work  is  over,  time  is  frequently  passed  in  card-play- 
ing or  in  a  game  at  quoits,  or  in  singing.  Especially  the  Italian  partof 
the  work  people  are  very  fond  of  singing,  and  they  amuse  themselves 
by  singing  to  the  accordion  or  the  banjo. 

A  laborer's  statement. 

The  following  questions  were  put  to  a  laborer,  aged  25  years,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  circular,  and  his  answers  are  given  : 

Question.  Are  you  married  or  single  ? — Answer.  I  have  a  wife  and  a  daughter. 

Q.  What  is  your  employment  ? — A.  I  work  in  the  custom-house,  where  I  get  66  cents 
a  day. 

Q.  Is  that  sufficient  for  you  to  support  your  family  ? — A.  No  ;  my  wife  has  to  help 
me  ;  she  washes  and  irons,  by  which  means  she  gains  an  average  of  43  cents  a  day. 

Q.  In  wliat  way,  more  or  less,  do  you  spend  your  money  ? — A.  We  pay  for  a  house  of 
three  rooms,  nicely  situated  in  a  by-street,  monthly,  $5.16;  for  food  we  manage  with 
$10.7.0,  eating  what  poor  people  generally  eat ;  and  the  rest  of  our  earnings  is  for 
clothing,  &c.,  $13.49;  total,  |29.40. 

This  man  is  unable  to  read  or  write,  and  states  that  he  does  not  lay 
up  anything. 

At  many  wholesale  and  retail  stores  and  manufactories  in  Rio  the  em- 
ployes receive  their  breakfast  and  dinner  at  the  establishment. 

SAFETY  OF  EMPLOY:6s. 

As  a  rule  employers  furnish  no  means  at  all  for  the  safety  of  the  work- 
men, neither  provide  for  them  in  any  way  in  case  of  accidents.  There 
are  nevertheless  some  establishments  provided  with  an  arrangement 
in  case  of  fire ;  and  some  corporations  provide  in  some  measure  for 
accidents  amongst  their  employes ;  in  cases  of  death  through  an  acci- 
dent in  the  service  of  the  corporation  they  help  towards  the  burial  and 
set  a  small  i^ension  on  the  widow  ;  in  cases  of  sickness,  they  provide 
for  a  doctor  and  the  medicines  ;  but  for  the  latter  they  are  generally 
made  to  pay  a  small  percentage  of  their  income.  The  general  relation 
between  employer  and  employes  is  merely  that  of  courtesy. 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS. 

There  is  no  especial  application  of  the  law  in  regard  to  the  working 
people;  they  enjoy  the  same  rights  as  any  other  class.  To  have  the 
right  of  voting  the  citizen  must  have  an  income  of  $8G  yearly,  which 
may  consist  of  wages  or  salary  as  well  as  income  on  capital.  A  person 
wishing  to  vote  must  draw  up  a  petition  to  the  judge  of  the  court  of  his 
district,  inclosing  documentary  evidence  of  his  qualification,  which  may 
cost  him  some  dollars.  This  has  to  be  done  in  September  before  the 
election.     If  the  judge  finds  the  documents  satisfactory,  after  forty  days 


214  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL. 

(time  allowed  for  opposite  parties  to  protest  against  his  qualifications) 
he  goes  to  an  official  recorder,  who  gives  him  his  permanent  "  diploma" 
of  voter.  Having  done  that,  he  has  only  to  wait  for  the  election  day. 
The  voting  takes  place  in  a  church  or  other  public  building  in  his  par- 
ish, where  he  must  appear,  within  the  time  appointed,  to  answer  his 
name,  presenting  his  diploma  when  his  name  is  called.  The  list  is  called 
by  the  judge  of  the  judicial  district  in  presence  of  two  other  delegates 
appointed  by  law. 

They  are  subject  to  the  same  direct  and  indirect  taxes  as  the  other 
classes,  according  to  their  income,  expenses,  and  property.  There  are 
no  laws  which  regulate  labor,  apart  from  the  existence  of  slavery,  in 
any  especial  way.  The  tendency  of  legislation  is  ftivorable  to  labor. 
As  yet,  however,  the  employment  of  minors  in  manufactures  has  not 
been  the  subject  of  legislation. 

CAUSES  OF  EMIGRATION. 

There  is  no  emigration  from  Brazil.  The  immigrants  to  Brazil  are 
principally  from  Portugal  and  Italy,  and  mostly  engaged  in  agricultural 
work  in  the  interior.  The  farmers,  especially  in  the  provinces  of  Sao 
Paulo,  Parana,  and  Rio  Grande  do  Sul,  enter  into  contracts  with  them 
as  is  most  convenient  to  both  parties.  Immigrants  who  have  any  special 
qualifications  find  emi^loyment  in  the  public  works,  on  railways,  in  pri- 
vate enterprises,  &c. 

NUMBER   OF   FEMALE   EMPLOYES. 

Up  to  the  present  time  the  employment  of  women  in  industrial  pur- 
suits has  been  very  limited.  There  are  no  authentic  statistics  published 
on  this  subject,  nor,  indeed,  any  statistics. 

a.  I  have  ascertained  that  one  cotton  and  woolen  factory  in  this 
city  emi)loys  60  women  and  47  children,  boys  and  girls,  as  operatives. 
Other  such  factories  employ  some  female  operatives.  Six  boot  and  shoe 
manufactories  that  have  been  visited  employ  108  women,  the  most  of 
whom  work  at  home.  They  are  not  employed  in  bookbinderies.  In 
two  of  the  principal  dress-making  establishments  57  women  are  em- 
ployed at  sewing.  Estimated  number  employed  in  manufacturing, 
1,500. 

h.  Are  employed  only  in  a  few  French  and  German  shops;  estimated 
number  employed,  100, 

c.  Public  teachers  paid  by  Government,  90  ;  in  private  schools,  100 ; 
teachers  of  music,  drawing,  and  languages,  40;  in  telephone  stations, 
20;  laundresses,  nearly  every  poor  woman. 

d.  Agriculture,  generally  only  slaves. 

FEMALE   WAGE   RATES. 

Wages  paid  to  females,  where  there  are  any,  will  be  found  specified 
in  the  tables  of  wages  paid  to  men.  Public  teachers  are  paid  the  same 
as  the  men.     Hours  of  labor  are  the  same  as  for  the  men. 

MORAL  AND  PHYSICAL  CONDITION. 

The  same  as  the  men,  with  the  exceptions  that  have  been  stated. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL.  215 

aiEANS  OF  IMPROVE:vrENT. 

There  are  94  public  schools  belonging  to  Government,  47  for  each 
sex,  besides  other  schools  belonging  to  private  beneficent  societies, 
where  they  can  receive  any  education  they  wish,  free  of  any  expense 
whatever  beyond  that  of  books.  Besides  this  there  is  nothing  else  pro- 
vided for  their  improvement. 

SAFETY   OF   FEMALE  EMPLOYES. 

None  whatever.  Fires,  however,  are  very  rare  in  Eio,  owing  partly 
to  the  style  of  building,  and  partly  to  the  infrequent  use  of  tires  for 
heating  purposes. 

PROVISIO>fS   FOR   SICK  AND   DISABLED. 

The  provisions  made  by  the  employers  in  regard  to  sanitary  measures 
and  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and  disabled  are  very  scanty,  if  any. 

EFFECTS   OF   WOMEN'S    EMPLOYMElSfT. 

There  has  been  some  little  increase  in  the  wages  of  women  in  the  past 
five  years,  but  the  necessaries  of  lifCsfive  years  ago  were  exceptionally 
high  on  account  of  the  famine  in  the  north  part  of  the  Empire.  How- 
ever, there  is  liability  of  an  increase  in  the  prices  of  necessaries  hence- 
forth, on  account  of  the  probability  of  increase  of  duties  on  articles  of 
imi)ortatiou.  The  employment  of  women  does  not  appear  to  have  af- 
fected the  wages  of  men. 

STATE   OF  FEMALE  EDUCATION. 

The  women  employed  as  operatives  possess,  as  a  rule,  very  little  edu- 
cation, and  are  mostly  single.  Their  occupation  in  this  regard  has  not 
apparently  produced  injurious  effects  on  the  family  circle.  As  apply- 
ing generally  to  the  working  classes,  the  habits  of  thrift  are  not  so  well 
developed  here  as  in  some  other  countries.  Although,  as  has  been  said, 
the  tendency  of  legislation  is  favorable  to  labor,  yet  the  fact  that  Gov- 
ernment supports  lotteries  for  the  purpose  of  revenue,  notwithstanding 
their  acknowledged  injurious  effects  on  the  economical  condition  of 
this  class,  illustrates  the  situation  tolerably  well.  The  bone  and  sinew 
of  this  large  city  are  replenished  every  year  by  some  thousands  of  tem- 
perate, industrious,  and  hardy  people  from  the  Azore  Islands  and  the 
mountain  districts  of  Portugal.  The  lot  of  the  laborer  here  is  not  neces- 
sarily a  hard  one.  With  reasonable  skill  in  his  calling  ;  with  attention 
and  application,  and  of  course  thrifty  habits,  he  can  lay  up  money.  It 
is  my  opinion  that  the  condition  of  the  working  class  has  much  im- 
proved in  the  past  thirty  years.  In  my  annual  report  published  in  the 
April,  1884,  number  of  Consular  Rei)orts  are  some  observations  on 
slavery  in  Brazil,  and  upon  agricultural  and  other  labor. 

Attention  is  called  to  explanatory  statements,  also  remarks  in  regard 
to  pensions  in  the  civil  service,  in  the  accompanying  Tables  I  to  XV. 

C.  C.  ANDBEWS, 

Consul- General. 

United  States  Consulate- General, 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  August  4,  1884. 


216 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRAZIL. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Eio  de  Janeiro 


Occnpations. 


Lowest 


Highest. 


Average. 


BUILDING  TEADES. 

Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Slaters  

Roofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants 

Carpenters 

G-as-fitters 

OTHER  TEADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookbinders , 

Brick-makers 

Brewers 

Butchers 

Brass-founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

Distillers 

Drivers : 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab,  carriage,  &c 

Street  railways , 

Dyers 

Engravers 

Gardeners 

Hatt«rs 

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Lithographers 

Millwrights 

Potters , 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sail-makers 

Stevedores : 

Day  (12  hours) 

Night  (11  hours) 

Tanners  (besides  2  meals  per  day*) 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Watchm  akers -' 

Painters 


$6  48 
3  87 
7  74 
3  87 
9  03 

3  87 

6  45 

4  64 
3  87 

7  22 
3  87 
7  74 
7  74 


5  16 

15  48 

5  70 

5  16 

8  25 
10  75 

3  09 
10  32 

9  03 

4  30 

7  74 

3  80 
15  92 

2  58 
2  58 

8  60 
2  58 

12  90 

4  30 

2  58 
7  74 
7  74 

3  87 
12  90 

3  52 
3  09 

5  16 
10  75 

3  87 

10  32 

7  74 

11  61 

2  60 

3  87 

6  45 
5  67 

10  75 
5  16 


$10  30 
5  67 

11  61 
5  67 

15  48 
5  67 

10  32 
9  03 
5  67 
9  03 
5  67 

10  32 

10  32 


9  00 
25  80 

7  74 
12  90 

10  32 
21  50 

5  16 
25  80 
12  90 
12  90 
15  48 

8  60 
21  50 

4  30 

4  30 

9  50 
15  37 
25  80 

6  45 
12  90 

9  80 

20  64 

5  67 
51  60 
25  80 

5  16 
25  80 

21  50 

6  45 
20  64 

9  03 

12  90 
4  87 

13  00 
15  70 

11  61 
32  25 
25  80 


$8  25 
4  64 
6  45 
4  64 

12  90 
4  64 
8  25 
8  25 
4  64 

8  25 
4  64 

9  03 
9  03 


7  74 
16  77 

6  45 
9  03 

4  64 
16  00 

3  87 
12  90 

11  61 

7  50 

12  90 

6  45 
15  92 

2  58 

2  58 
9  5« 

5  37 
12  90 

4  30 
10  32 

9  CO 
12  90 

4  64 
12  90 

15  48 

3  87 
12  90 

16  00 

5  16 

10  32 

7  74 

11  61 

4  3ft 

5  16 
10  75 

9  03 

21  50 

7  74 


*Some  other  classes  of  workmen,  such  as  drivers,  saddle-makers,  and  tailors,  get  two  meals  a  day 
besides  the  wages  stated  in  the  columns. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRAZIL. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  in  factories,  mills,  ^c,  in  Eio  dr.  Janeiro, 


217 


Occupations. 


GLOVE  FACTOBT. 

Men  in  cutting  out  gloves per  month. 

Men  in  scraping  the  skins do... 

Dyers do... 

Sewing  women do 

Apprentices: 

Men do... 

Women do . . . 

FURNITURE  MAKERS. 

Cabinet-makers per  week. 

Sculptors do... 

Cane-seat  makers do 

Varnishera do... 

Turners do... 

Ironsmiths do... 

CLOTH  MANUFACTOKT. 

Masters per  week . 

Overseers do... 

Engineer do . . . 

Firemen do... 

"Weavers : 

Men -. do... 

Women do... 

C  hildren do . . . 

Packers do . . . 

WALI.-PAPKR  PRINTING  FACTORY. 

Maater per  week. 

Workmen do  .. 


Lowest.  Highest.  Average 


^2  90 
10  75 
10  75 
6  45 


6  45 
6  45 
3  87 

5  16 

6  45 
6  45 


19  35 

7  74 
12  90 
6  45 

5  16 

2  06 

77 

5  16 


8  60 
3  22 


$19  35 
12  90 
15  05 
10  75 


15  48 
15  48 
6  45 
10  32 
15  48 
14  20 


43  00 
11  61 

25  80 
7  74 

6  45 
3  35 
2  06 
6  45 


21  50 
5  37 


$17  20 

11  00 

12  90 
8  60 

3  20 

4  30 


11  61 
11  61 
5  16 
7  74 
11  61 
10  32 


34  40 

7  74 
17  20 
6  45 

5  16 
2  60 
1  30 
5  16 


16  00 
4  30 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  and  a  half  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in 

Bio  de  Janeiro. 


Occupations. 

Lowest 

Highest. 

Average. 

Machine  department: 

$0  52 

1  50 

2  15 

$2  15 

2  58 

3  00 

$1  72 

Fitters                                                     

1  72 

2  50 

1  07 

64 

21 

Copper-boiler  makers : 

3  44 

2  15 

1  07 

Iron-boiler  makers : 

3  00 
1  29 

77 
21 

3  00 

1  72 

77 

3  44 

2  58 
1  03 

3  00 
1  29 

4  30 

3  00 

1  03 
64 

4  30 

2  58 
1  03 

4  30 

3  00 

1  29 

3  21 

2  15 

4  30 

1  93 

86 

21 

Foundry; 

4  30 

2  15 

86 

Blacksmiths: 

4  30 

2  79 

1  07 

Modellers: 

3  00 

1  72 

218  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL. 

IV.  Glass-workers. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-six  hours  to  glass- workers  in  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 


Occupations. 


Apprentices 

"Workmen,  blowers,  &c  . 


Highest.    Average. 


$2  58 

7  74 


$1  29 
5  16 


Not  much  can  be  said  of  glass-workers  in  Kio,  since  there  exists  only  one  manufactory,  and  that  very 
insignificant.  The  working  room  is  perhaps  not  larger  than  15  square  yards  ;  it  is  on  the  first  floor  of  a 
wooden-built  edifice,  staircase,  floor,  &g.,  all  being  of  wood.  In  the  center  of  the  room  stands  the  fur- 
nace with  the  molten  glass ;  on  one  side  of  the  room  stand  the  annealing  ovens,  whilst  the  other  three 
sides  of  the  room  are  of  glass.  Lamp  chimneys,  common  tumblers,  j  ars,  &  c. ,  are  about  the  only  articles 
manufactured. 

V.  Mines  and  mining.* 

Wages  paid  in  connection  ivith  the  gold  mine  in  Goyaz,  Brazil. 


Occupations. 


The  following  is  all  that  could  be  ascertained  of  the  above  mine: 

Manager per  year.. 

Chief  engineer do 

Carter per  month . , 

Workmen  on  the  hydraulics per  week.. 

Carpenters do... 

Blacksmiths do 

Fitters do... 

Miners do 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


}     $2  06 


.$5, 160  00 

5, 160  00 

8  60 


12  90 


Average. 


$2  58 


*  No  details  can  be  given  in  this  line,  since  there  are  no  mines  in  Rio  de  Janeiro. 
There  is  a  total  of  108  employes  receiving  monthly  the  amount  of  $1,075. 


VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  tfc. ),  in  Bio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$25  80 

9  03 

15  91 

5  67 

7  74 

Average. 

$10  32 
5  16 

8  60 
3  87 
5  16 

$15  48 
6  45 

12  90 

5  16 

C  45 

5  16 

5  16 

4  64 

5  67 

6  45 

5  16 

7  74 

5  16 

4  61 

6  45 

5  16 

10  75 

6  45 

7  74 
10  32 

9  03 

9  03 

10  32 

5  16 

21  50 

15  70 

9  03 

12  90 

10  32 

11  61 
15  48 

6  45 

19  35 

Telegraph  operators 

10  75 

7  74 

Masons ..          

11  61 

Bricklayers 

9  80 

Carpenters 

10  32 

Ironsmiths,  adjusters 

Strikers 

12  90 
6  45 

Solderingman 

10  32 

Assistant 

6  45 

Pavers 

6  45 

8  24 

7  74 

LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRAZIL. 

VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 


219 


Wages  paid  per  tveek  of  sixty  hours  in  ship-yards — distinguished  between  iron  and  wood  build- 
ing— in  liio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 


Occapations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.  lAverage. 


Iron-boiler  makers . . . 
In  iron  : 

Turners 

Molders 

Fitters 

Riveters 

Copper-boiler  makers 

Blacksmiths 

Carpenters 

Calkers 

In  wood : 

Riveters 

Pulley-makers 

Turners 

Fitters  

Sail-makers 

Apprentices  


$5  16 


$25  80 


$14  19 


5  16  i 

25  80 

14  19 

5  16 

25  80 

14  19 

5  16 

25  80 

14  19 

5  16  1 

25  80 

14  19 

5  16 

25  30 

14  19 

5  16 

20  64 

i+ie 

5  16  1 

20  64 

14  19 

5  16  j 

20  64 

14  19 

5  16 

20  64 

14  19 

5  16 

20  04 

10  32 

5  16 

20  64 

10  32 

9  03 

25  80 

14  19 

0  32 

20  64  ; 

15  48 

2  00 

3  87 

2  58 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  between  sail  and  steam — 

in  liio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average, 


Sailing  vessel : 

Captain 

Able  seamen 

Ordinary  seamen  , 
Steamers : 

Captain 

Able  seamen 

Ordinary  seamen  . 

Stewards 


$43  00 
15  05 

10  75 


$107  50 
15  05 
10  75 


$64  50 
15  05 
10  75 


143  00 

258  00 

215  OO 

15  05 

17  00 

15  05 

10  75 

12  90 

10  75 

17  00 

25  80  ! 

21  50 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  ninety-six  hours  in  connection  ivith  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to 
males  and  females  in  Bio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Accountants 

$32  25 

21  50 

5  37 

1  29 

$86  00 

53  75 

21  48 

2  58 

$53  75 

Cashiers 

32  25 

Salesmen 

10  74 

Apprentices -     .   .   .   .          .....            

1  29 

Employi'-s  in  stores  are  paid  according,  first,  to  the  wealth  of  the  establishment ;  secondly,  according 
to  the  tniininii  of  the  individual ;  it  makes  no  difference  whether  it  be  in  a  wholesale  or  retail  store,  or 
whatever  kind  it  may  be. 


X.  Agricultural  wages. 


Unfortunately,  up  to  tlie  present  time  most  of  the  agricultural  labor  has  beeu  done 
by  slaves.  To  the  south  of  Rio,  however,  they  are  beginning  to  employ  free  hands,  and 
these  generally  get  43  cents  a  day,  besides  their  food.  Government,  however,  favors 
emancipation,  and  slavery  has  already  been  abolished  in  two  provinces — Amazons 
and  Cear^. 


220  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL. 

XI.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  eitiea)  in  Bio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$12  90 
8  60 
21  50 
6  45 
6  45 
6  45 
8  60 
8  60 
8  60 

$25  80 
19  35 
38  70 
12  90 
17  20 
17  40 
17  20 
12  90 
25  80 

$17  20 
12  90 

25  80 

8  60 

Laundress 

12  90 

12  90 

Sewing  woman 

12  90 

10  75 

Gardener 

17  20 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Rio  de  Janeiro. 
(Per  week  of  sixty-six  hours.] 


Oconpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Street-railway  company : 

Pavers 

Master  of  the  line 

per  week.. 

do 

$6  45 

$8  24 

$7  74 
10  32 

Conductor  of  the  cars . 

do 

9  50 

Drivers  of  the  cars , 

do 

1 

9  50 

Sweepers  of  the  line 

do.... 

5  16 

Changer  of  animals 

do.... 

5  16 

Stjiblemen 

do.... 

5  16 

"Workmen  on  the  line 

Car-cleaners 

Despatchers 

Signal-men 

Banks: 

Managers 

do..-. 

do.... 

do... 

do.... 

permonth.. 

do 

do... 

do.   .. 

5  16 
4  66 
10  75 
4  66 

430  00 
142  00 
129  00 
43  00 
129  00 

7  74 

5  16 

12  90 

5  16 

1,  290  00 
387  00 
2.58  00 
150  00 
215  00 

5  16 
4  66 
10  75 
4  66 

Sub-managers 

Accountant 

Clerks 

86  00 

Cashiers 

Ho 

- 

XIII,  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Annual  salaries  paid  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers,  in  liio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil. 


Occupations. 


$5, 160  00 
3,  225  00 

2,  580  00 
1,  376  00 

688  00 

1,  720  00 

1,  376  00 

860  00 

516  00 

1,  980  00 
1,720  00 
1,  4-JO  00 
1,  120  00 

1,  032  00 

3,  096  00 

2,  580  00 

774  00 

2,  580  00 
1,  290  00 
^  Gratification  only  paid,  or  a  proportionate  part  when  full  time  is  devoted. 


Ministers  (each) 

Senators 

Deputies 

Professors  (medicine) 

Snb.stitutes  (medicine) 

Polytechnic  Enginering  School : 

Director 

Profe.s.sors 

Substitutes 

Public  teachers  (primary  schools). 
Observatory : 

Director 

First  astronomer 

Second  astronomer 

Third  astronomer 

Calculator 

Hospitals : 

Director  

Physicians 

Chemists 

Supreme  court  of  justice : 

Presiding  judge 

Secretary 


Gratifica- 
tion.* 


$688  00 
344  00 

860  00 
688  00 
430  00 
258  00 

1,  030  00 
860  00 
730  00 
600  00, 
516  00 


1,290  00 
645  00 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRAZIL.  221 

Annual  salaries  of  employ^  in  Government  departments,  ^c. — Continued. 


Occnpations. 


Salary. 

Gratifica- 
tion.* 

$1,  032  00 

$516  00 

1,032  00 

516  00 

5, 160  00 

2,  580  00 

1,290  00 

2,  064  00 

1,032  00 

2,064  00 

1,  032  00 

2,  064  00 

1.  032  00 

2,  064  00 

1,  032  00 

1, 118  00 

602  00 

1,118  00 

602  00 

1,118  00 

602  00 

903  00 

473  00 

645  00 

344  00 

903  00 

473  00 

645  00 

344  00 

301  00 

129  00 

2,  150  00 

946  00 

344  00 

1,  290  00 

645  00 

1, 290  00 

688  00 

258  00 

688  00 

344  OO 

860  00 

430  00 

430  00 

215  OO 

688  00 

344  00 

430  00 

258  oa 

344  00 

172  00 

510  00 

215  00 

35,  368  00 

48,934  00 

55,  900  00 

166,  625  00 

Hospitals — Continued. 

Jndgos  

Chrcf  of  police 

Department  of  finance:  , 

1  nuni.'itcr 

4  directors  general  (each) 

2  8ul>-(lirect()r.s  (each) 

1  assistant  attorney-generaW 

1  secretary  in  chief 

5  counters  (each)    

4  secretaries  or  clerks  (each) 

2  secretaries  (each) 

34  first  clerks  (each) 

32  second  clerks  (each)  

30  third  clerks  (each(  

4  second  secretaries  (each) 

4  copyists  (each) 

14  supernumeraries  (eacb) 

1  ti'easarer-goueral 

To  cover  losses 

2  curators  (each) 

1  teller 

To  cover  losses 

4  curators  (each) 

1  archivist , 

1  assistant 

1  doorkeeper 

1  assistant 

Department  of  finance : 

9  messengers  (each) 

4  mount<jd  orderlies  

32  officers  and  cleiks  of  the  mint  (agsregate) 

38  officers  and  clerks  of  bureau  of  currency  (aggregate) 

90  officers  and  clerks  office  of  receipt  of  puldic  money  (aggregate) . 
196  officers  and  clerks  of  custom  house  of  Rio  (aggregate) 


*  Gratification  only  paid,  or  a  proportionate  part  when  full  time  is  devot-ed. 

Pensions, — All  public  civil  employ6s  after  thirty  >  ears  service  receive  a  pension  equal  to  their  full 
salary.  If  thej-  retire  before  the  thirty  years  have  expired  they  receive  a  part  of  their  salary  propor- 
tionate to  the  time  they  served.  As  to  professors  their  term  of  service  is  25  years,  receiving  full 
Eay  ;  and  if  they  continue  beyond  that  time  and  then  retire  they  receive  a  certain  part  of  their  grati- 
cation  additional. 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor  in  government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  week  of  sixty  hours  to  trades  and  laborers  in  Government  employ  in  Eio 

de  Jantiro. 


Occupations. 


Custom-house : 

Overlooker 

Assistant 

Woikinen  at  the  cranes. 

Labor  er,  effective 

Laborer,  additional 

Public  works  : 

Foreman   

Assi.-itant 

Clerk 

Cinie  keeper 

Chaiu-iiian 

Foreman  : 

Bricklayer 

Carpenter 

Stone  masim 

Blacksmith 

Bricklayer 

Carpenter 

Stone  mason 

Pavers  

Blacksmith 

Fitter 

Turner  (in  iron) 

Molder  

Vice  men 

Plumber 


Lowest. 


Highest 


$9  03 
6  45 
6  45 
6  45 
6  45 


Average.. 


$12  90 

7  74 

10  32 

9  03 

7  74 


$25  80 
10  32 
6  45 

5  16 
3  87 

10  32 

6  45 

7  7i 
7  74 
6  45^ 


10  32 

15  48 

12  90 

10  32 

15  48 

12  90 

10  32 

15  48 

12  90 

10  32 

15  48 

12  90 

6  45 

10  32 

7  74 

6  45 

10  32 

7  74 

7  74 

10  32 

9  03 

6  45 

9  80 

7  74 

6  45 

10  32 

9  03 

7  74 

10  32 

9  03 

7  74 

9  03 

7  74 

8  80 

10  32 

9  50 

7  74 

10  32 

9  oa 

6  46 

10  32 

9  oa 

222  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    BRAZIL. 

Wages  paid  hy  the  week  of  sixty  hours  to  trades  and  laborers,  ^c. — Continued. 


Occupations. 


Public  works— ContiDued. 

Common  painter ' 

Miner 

Striker 

Laborer I • 

Gardener 

Carter 

Marine  and  war  departments : 

Iron  and  copper  boiler-makers,  turners,  molders,  fitters,  riveters: 

Master 

Undermaster 

Workmen : 

First  class 

Second  class 

Third  class 

Fouith  class 

Fifth  class 

Sixth  class 

Apprentices 

Blacksmiths : 

Master 

Workmen : 

First  class ... 

Second  class 

Third  class 

Fourth  class 

Fifth  class 

Sixth  class 

Apprentices 

Carpenters,  calkers,  and  riveters : 

Master 

Undermaster 

Workmen : 

First  class 

Second  class 

Third  class 

Fourth  class 

Fifth  class 

Sixth  class  

Apprentices 

Pulley -makers  and  turners : 

Master 

Undermaster 

Workmen : 

First  class 

Second  class 

Third  class 

Fourth  class 

Fifth  class 

Apprentices 

Sail  makers : 

Master 

Workmen: 

First  class 

Second  class 


Lowest. 


$7  74 

6  45 

5  16 

3  87 

5  16 

5  16 

16  77 

14  19 

9  00 

7  74 

6  45 

5  67 

5  16 

3  87 

2  06 

14  19 

9  00 

7  74 

6  45 

5  66 

5  16 

3  90 

2  06 

11  61 

9  03 

7  74 

6  50 

5  16 

3  90 

3  12 

2  58 

2  00 

11  61 

9  03 

6  45 

5  67 

5  16 

3  90 

3  09 

2  00 

11  61 

6  45 

5  16 

$10  32 
9  80 

5  67 

6  45 
6  45 
5  67 


25  80 
20  64 

14  19 

12  90 

11  61 

10  32 
9  03 

7  74 
3  87 

20  64 

14  19 

12  90 

11  61 

10  32 
9  03 
7  74 
3  87 

20  64 
18  06 

14  19 

11  61 
9  03 
7  74 

6  45 

5  16 
2  58 

18  06 
14  19 

10  32 
9  03 

7  74 

6  45 
5  16 
2  58 

20  64 

11  61 
10  32 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  forty-eight  hours  to  printers  {compositors, 
pressmen,  and  proof -readers)  in  Eio  Janeiro. 


Occupations. 


Compositors 

Pressmen : 

Large  Liberty  press  . . 

Small  Liberty  press  .. 

Job-work  

Bookbinders 

Men  to  damp  piiper 

Men  to  fold  papcir 

Men  to  fold  inferior  work 

Proof-readers 

Gilders. 


Lowest. 


Men  to  rule  paper. . 
Men  to  page  books  . 


$10  32 
5  16 
5  16 
5  16 


16  12 
12  90 


Highest. 


$12  90 
10  32 
10  32 
12  90 


21  50 
15  48 
12  90 


'  For  every  1,000  ems. 


tFor  every  1,000  sheets. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRAZIL.  223 


PERNAMBUCO. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  ATHERTON. 
COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  work-people  live  iu  tbe  most  primitive  way,  not  any  of  them  i)ay- 
ing  over  $42  a  year  for  rent.  Codfish  from  Newfoundland  is  a  j^-eat 
article  of  consumption — it  costs  2  to  3  cents  a  pound ;  mandioca  flour 
also  is  their  principal  article  of  consumiition  in  the  way  of  flour.  Im- 
ported flour  is  too  dear  for  them,  costing  at  retail  about  10  cents  per 
pound  and  $9  by  the  barrel,  while  the  mandioca  flour  costs  16  cents  a 
peck.  Potatoes  are  dear;  fruits  are  cheap,  and  in  the  way  they  are 
eaten  by  the  working-class  do  more  harm  than  good.  Beef  is  worth 
from  16  cents  a  pound  to  30  cents.  Jerked  beef,  of  which  a  great  deal 
is  consumed  here,  is  worth  about  Hi  cents  a  pound. 

Comparison  of  present  price  of  labor  (1878)  about  the  same. 

HABITS   OF   THE   ^yORKINO  CLASS. 

Work  as  little  as  they  can  to  live.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  as  the 
children  of  these  people  have  a  chance  for  common-school  training  that 
there  will  be  an  improvement  in  the  next  generation  (the  children  are 
bright  and,  I  understand,  learn  quickly).  They  do  not  save  any  money ; 
many  of  them  have  been  slaves  and  have  not  the  habit  of  saving.  The 
slaves  on  the  plantations,  manj^  of  them,  are  degraded  and  stupid,  but 
that  depends  greatly  on   the  kind  of  masters  they  have  or  have  had. 

PREVALENCY   OF   STRIKES. 

There  has  been  one  since  I  have  been  here,  done  by  a  sort  of  impulse; 
no  organization  about  it.  There  are  no  organizations  of  labor  that  I 
know  of.  The  working  people  are  free  to  purchase,  as  a  rule.  Most 
of  the  employes  are  backwards  in  paying;  only  well-to-do  people  and 
tradesmen  pay  promptly.  They  are  paid  iu  paper  money  and  in  cop- 
per coin.    No  other  money  is  in  circulation  here. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE  WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  general  condition  of  the  working  people,  as  a  rule,  is  that  they 
are  poorly  paid,  fed,  and  clothed;  but  they  are  satisfied  with  their  life 
so  long  as  they  have  enough  to  eat  and  a  place  to  live  in. 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS. 

Some  few  are  voters ;  they  have  no  influence  on  legislation  except, 
perhaps,  by  their  talk  when  excited.  They  do  not  pay  any  taxes  un- 
less they  are  voters ;  then  it  is  a  small  sum. 

The  whole  may  be  summed  up  in  this :  They  are  changing  from  slave 
to  free  labor,  and  the  present  generation  of  laborers  as  a  body  do  not 
know  how  to  read  or  write ;  they  have  no  hope  of  improving  their  con- 
dition, and  therefore  live  from  hand  to  mouth  ;  but  I  think  there  will 
be  a  decided  improvement  in  the  next  generation,  as  they  will  have  (the 


224 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRAZIL. 


most  of  them)  a  fair  common-school  education,  and  will  learn  quickly 
any  trade  or  calling  they  may  be  put  at,  and  with  the  knowledge  they 
have  will  probably  be  anxious  to  live  better. 

There  is  no  female  labor  except  as  servants  ;  they  are  paid  from  $4 
to  $12  per  month  with  board. 

The  same  state  exists  in  the  consular  agencies,  so  that  one  report  will 
answer  for  all. 

HENEY  L.  ATHERTON, 

GonsuL 

United  States  Consulate, 

Pernamhuco^  June  2,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  in  Fernamluco. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 


Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 
Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Roofers 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants  .. 

Carpenters 

Gas-fitters 


OTHER  TRADES. 


Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bookbinders 

Brickmakers 

Brewers 

Butchers 

Brass-founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

Distillers 

Drivers 

Draymen  and  teamsters  , 

Cab  and  carriage 

Street  railway 

Horseshoers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Printers  

Teachers  (public  schools)  . . . 
Saddle  and  harness  makers. . 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators* 

Tinsmiths 


Lowest. 


$2  54 
5  04 
5  04 

1  92 

2  52 
1  92 
1  98 

1  92 
5  04 

2  52 

3  78 
2  52 


2  52 
5  04 
2  52 


1  26 

1  50 

2  52 
2  52 
5  04 

2  52 

3  78 
3  75 
3  04 
1  94 


5  04 


5  04 

2  52 

3  72 


Highest. 


$19  20 

10  08 

7  56 

1  92 

5  04 

1  92 

2  52 

1  92 
10  08 

2  52 
15  02 
10  08 


5  04 
15  02 

5  04 

6  30 

2  52 

6  30 

7  56 

4  56 
14  32 

5  04 

3  72 
5  04 
7  56 

14  32 
5  04 
7  56 

5  25 
10  08 

3  78 
12  00 
12  60 

7  56 
12  60 

6  30 
6  30 


Aveiage. 


$7  56 
5  25 
5  25 
1  92 
3  72 

1  92 

2  42 

1  92 
7  59 

2  52 
5  26 
5  04 


3  72 
10  08 

3  72 

6  30 
2  42 
5  04 
5  25 
5  04 
5  25 
2  52 
2  52 
2  52 
5  04 

7  50 

4  50 

5  14 

4  28 

5  04 
2  00 

12  00 
7  56 


7  56 
5  04 
5  04 


*  The  operators  of  the  English  submarine  cable  are  paid  about  $3.50  per  day. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    BRAZIL. 


225 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  iceek  of  forty-eight  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Pernamluco. 


Occnpations. 


Cotton  factories  : 

Workmen 

Clerks 

Directors,  superintendents,  &o. 


Lowest. 


$2  52 

3  78 

12  60 


Highest. 


$10  08 
12  60 
35  28 


Average. 


$5  04 

5  04 

25  20 


Only  one  factory  here  of  cotton ;  they  have  the  right  for  this  province ;  they  only  make  cotton  hag- 
ging  ;  all  the  other  cotton  goods  are^ported;  the  lowest  sort  of  white  or  unbleached  cotton  sells  for 
about  12  cents  per  yard. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shops, 

and  iron  works. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$168  00 

24  60 

24  60 

3  36 

$246  00 

49  20 

49  20 

6  30 

$147  00 
31  50 

33  60 

4  20 

YI.  Bail  WAY  employ:6s. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  raihvay  employes  (those  engaged  about  stations  as  well  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  <j'-c. )  in  Pernambuco. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$10  50 
13  00 

37  80 
12  60 
10  50 

$24  20 
16  80 
75  00 
16  80 
31  50 

$3  60 

63  00 

14  70 

14  70 

'  Engine  drivers  and  firemen  have  one  day  off  in  every  week. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  in  Pernambuco. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest.   Average. 

$16  00 

$17  00 

$16  75 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  with  hoard  to  household  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  Pernambuco. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Butler 

$8  40 
14  70 

8  40 
4  20 
8  40 
8  40 

$16  80 
16  80 
21  00 
8  40 
12  60 
12  60 

$12  60 
15  54 

Tutor.                  .              

Cook 

14  70 

6  30 

Footmen    

10  50 

10  50 

92  A— 2  LAB- 


IS 


226  LABOR    IN    SOUTH   AMERICA  :    BRAZIL. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Pernamluco, 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Overseers  on  plantations*. 

Cane-cutters  * 

Laborers  t 

Sugar  boilers  t 

Gardeners  * 


.per  month. 

per  clay. 

do... 

do... 

.per  month. 


$16  80 

S3 

33 

1  26 

12  60 


$42  00 

63 

63 

1  68 

21  00 


$30  00 
48 


1  47 
16  80 


*With  board. 


t  Without  board. 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices  in  Pernamiuco. 


Occnpationa. 


Lo'west. 


Highest. 


Collector per  month . 

Surveyor do... 

Chief  of  section do... 

First  clerk  or  writer do... 

Second  clerk  or  writer do... 

Third  clerk  or  writer do 

Examiner  to  see  thai  the  rates  are  properly  charged do . . . 

Laborers per  week . 

"Watchmen  and  assistants do. .. 

Governor  of  the  laborers per  month. 

Inspectors  for  receiving  and  delivering  cargo : do . . . 

Chief  inspector  of  the  above do  . . 

Watchmen  for  the  harbor .»^ per  week. 


$5  46 


$3  36 

2  10 

2  10 

189  86 

105  00 

63  00 

176  40 

7  35 

7  35 
210  00 

37  80 
67  20 

8  59 


The  custom-house  does  not  open  on  Sundays  or  holidays,  of  which  there  are  quite  a  number  in  a 
year,  including  church  holidays  and  imperial  liolidays. 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor— Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  iy  the  month  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  hours  to  the  trades  and  laborers 
in  Government  employ  in  Pernambuco. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$37  80 
8  82 

$63  00 
25  60 

$5S  60 

12  60 

LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    FALKLAND    ISLANDS. 


227 


REPORT  BY  CONSUL  LASAR,  OF  PORT  STANLEY. 

1.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  in  Port  Stanley. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Bnilding  trades per  hour. 

Bricklayers do... 

Masons     do  .. 

Tenders do... 

PlaHteiers do. .. 

Tenders  .'. do. .. 

Carpenters do... 

Black.smiths do... 

Strikers do... 

Batchers  per  month. 

Coopers per  hour. 

Gardener.s per  month. 

Laborers,  porters,  &c per  hour. 

Priu  ters  do . . . 

Sail-makers per  day. 

Stevedores do... 


$0  24 
24 
24 
15 
24 
15 
24 


26  73 

24 

29  16 

15 

24 

3  00 

2  00 


36  45 

24 

38  88 

15 

24 

4  00 

2  00 


VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 

Wages  jyaid  per  day  in  ship-yards  distinguishing  between  iron  and  wood  ship-building — in 

Fort  Stanley. 


Occupations. 


Average 
wages. 


Ship-builders  in  wood . 


$3  00 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seame7i  (officers  and  men) — distinguishing  bettceen  ocean,  coast, 
and  river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam — in  Port  Stanley. 


^ 

i^^! 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Coasting: 

119  44 
29  16 

19  44 
34  02 

$24  30 
29  16 

Ocean  navigation: 

88  88 

48  60 

Seamen  are  shipped  here  only  for  steamers  coasting. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females  in  Port  Stanley. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$29  16 
29  16 

$60  76 
29  16 

228  LABOR    m    SOUTH    AMERICA:    PERU. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Fort  Stanley. 


Occapations. 


Highest. 


Male  servants  .  - . 
Female  servants . 


$24  30 
9  72 


Their  whole  time  is  given  to  their  masters  or  mistresses.  The  moral  and  physical  condition  is  good. 
The  climate  here,  although  boisterous,  promotes  their  health  considerably.  The  advantages  are  a 
Sunday  school  and  a  tolerable  library,  to  which,  for  a  small  fee, they  may  have  access,  and  books  are 
loaned  to  them. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of  tradesmen  and 
laborers,  in- the  Falkland  Islands. 


Occupations. 

Salary. 

Occupations. 

Salary. 

Governor per  month.. 

Colonial  secretary per  annum . . 

Government  clerk do 

Colonial  sureeon do 

Colonial  chaplain do 

Police  magistrate do 

$405  00 
1,  458  00 

972  00 
1,  458  00 
1,  458  00 

729  00 

Government  pilot per  annum.. 

Chief  constable do 

Constables per  month.. 

Government  messenger do 

Government  printer do 

$486  00 

729  00 

24  30 

34  02 

29  16 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  to  the  trades  and  laborers  i7i  Government  employ  in  the  Falkland  Islands, 


Occupations. 


Average 


Carpenter 

Day  laborers . 


.  .per  day., 
.per  hour.. 


$2  00 
15 


PERU. 

REPORT  BY  ACTING  CONSUL  BRENT,  OF  OALLAO. 
UNSATISFACTORY   CONDITION   OF  AFFAIRS. 

In  reply  to  the  labor  circular  of  the  Department  of  State,  dated  the 
15th  of  February,  and  received  at  this  consulate  on  the  19th  of  A])ril,  I 
have  the  honor  of  transmitting  herewith  the  resi)ective  blanks,  filled  in 
as  instructed. 

From  the  exceptional  condition  of  this  republic,  emerging  from  a  long 
and  disastrous  war,  the  data  given  should  not  be  regarded  as  that  ob- 
taining in  normal  times.  Enterprise  and  business  activity  are  still 
paralyzed;  fortunes  represented  five  years  ago,  by  the  government 
paper  money  on  which  all  transactions  were  then  based,  and  their  having 
an  exchangeable  value  of  from  18  to  20  pence  sterling  for  the  sol,  have 
disappeared  with  the  fall  of  that  same  pajier  currency  to  a  value  of  2J 
pence  sterling  for  the  sol,  and  consequently  the  necessary  capital  for 
the  development  of  industrial  undertakings  is  not  attainable.    There- 


LABOR  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA:  PERU.  229 

fore  it  is,  that  the  demaiul  is  proportionatelj'  limited,  and  laborers 
obliged  to  accept  such  wages  as  they  can  secure  in  the  few  openings 
for  work  afforded  to  them.  A  skilled  mechanic,  for  instance,  who  in 
1877  or  1878,  could  easily  have  comuuinded  from  four  to  six  silver  sols 
or  its  equivalent,  per  day,  must  now,  from  the  slack  opportunity,  con- 
tent himself  with  half  or  a  third  of  that  amount. 

So  it  is  in  every  branch  of  industry  from  the  counting-house,  or  the 
great  importing  establishments,  to  the  petty  tradesmen  or  artisans. 
The  first  cannot  find  a  market  for  their  goods,  and  the  last  named  suf- 
fer from  the  general  stagnation  of  business,  the  lack  of  capital,  and  the 
disinclination  to  grant  credit  or  accommodation.  The  banks  crii^pled 
in  their  resources  can  do  nothing  to  assist  their  clients. 

The  balance  of  trade  formerly  in  favor  of  Peru,  from  her  large  exports 
of  guano  and  nitrates,  is  now  against  her,  since  Chili  has  taken  posses- 
sion of  those  sources  of  such  enormous  wealth;  owing  to  the  war  and 
heavy  customs  duties  the  output  of  sugar  has  fallen  from  100,000  to 
40,000  or  45,000  tons  yearly,  and  the  drain  of  men  for  military  service 
left  the  mines  and  agricultural  districts  in  the  interior,  if  not  quite  de- 
serted, at  least  in  such  a  state  as  to  render  work  uncertain  and  unprofit- 
able. 

The  Government  in  Peru,  formerly  the  distributer  of  wealth  and  re- 
sources, now  finds  a  scanty  income  in  the  customs  revenue  and  iu  the 
taxes  on  lands  and  i)roperty,  which  are  maintained  at  nearly  the  same 
high  price  as  before,  notwithstanding  the  almost  general  poverty  and 
even  penury.  This  burden  naturally  contributes  in  great  measure  to- 
wards depressing  and  restricting  financial  advancement. 

HOPEFUL   OUTLOOK. 

But  nearly  all  classes  of  persons  have  well-founded  hopes  in  the  elas- 
ticity of  Peru,  and  that  with  the  consolidation  of  internal  tranquillity 
and  the  establishment  of  peace  abroad,  the  immense  resources  of  the 
country  will  be  developed ;  foreign  capital  is  looked  for  and,  indeed, 
promised,  to  open  up  again  the  wonderfully  rich  silver-mini ug  district 
of  the  Cerro  de  Pasco,  which, in  itself,  would  be  a  guarantee  for  progress. 

And  the  Government,  when  once  relieved  from  the  pressing  cares  in- 
cident on  such  a  thorough  reconstruction  as  that  now  called  for,  will 
doubtless  reduce  the  almost  prohibitory  duties  imposed  on  the  exporta- 
tion of  sugar  and  ores,  and  then  the  laboring  classes  iu  Peru  will  have 
the  opportunity  given  to  them  for  regaining  their  former  advantageous 
positions  and  emoluments. 

WAGES  AND   COST   OF  LIVING. 

The  question  of  the  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  in  Peru  can, 
at  present,  be  answered  by  referring  to  the  sums  they  gain  by  their 
work. 

Kice,  beans,  fish,  potatoes,  and  sometimes  a  little  pork  or  beef,  form 
their  usual  food.  If  a  man  earns  say  $9  per  week,  and  few  do,  the  sur- 
plus remaining  after  paying  for  the  week's  sujiply  of  provisions  is  in- 
finitesimal. 

Lodgings  are  not  so  expensive,  for  this  class  of  people  generally  live 
in  long  "callejones"  or  alley-ways,  where  two  rooms  may  be  obtained 
for  a  monthly  rent  of  from  $2  to  $4. 

Among  the  better  class  of  mechanics  and  skilled  workmen  the  condi- 
tion of  affairs  is  about  the  same,  for  their  pay  is  proportionately  small, 


■^230  LABOR    m    SOUTH    AMERICA:    PERU. 

and  their  position  entails  a  greater  expenditure  in  the  way  of  clothing, 
house-rent,  &c.  So  that  I  may  conclude  on  this  point  by  stating  as  my 
firm  conviction  that,  at  this  moment  in  Peru,  ninety-nine  out  of  a  hun- 
dred of  the  classes  alluded  to  live  literally  from  hand  to  mouth,  and 
this  is  emphatically  proven  by  a  ramble  through  the  streets  of  Lima,  and 
the  spectacle  of  the  countless  pawnbrokers'  shops  and  places  for  the  pur- 
chase of  old  furniture  and  household  goods  that  have  come  into  existence 
since  the  war,  aud  that  are  crowded  to  the  roofs  by  the  accumulation  of 
such  objects  sold  at  a  ruinous  sacrifice  by  the  people  to  whom  I  refer. 

Were  it  within  the  scope  of  this  paper,  I  might  even  extend  my  re- 
marlis  to  other  and  higher  classes  who  have  been  reduced  to  almost 
mendicity  by  the  terrible  calamities  afflicting  the  republic  i>olitically 
and  socially. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  habits  of  the  working  classes  are  not  so  satisfactory  as  might  be 
desired.  There  are  three  obstacles,  principal  ones^  standing  in  their 
way: 

First,  the  laxative  influence  of  the  climate,  combined  with  the  pecu- 
liar character  of  the  Spanish-American  people  in  the  tropics. 

Second,  the  extraordinary  aud  wholly  unuecessary  number  of  feast- 
days,  religious,  political,  and  social,  observed  during  the  year,  it  being 
computed  that,  exclusive  of  Sundays,  there  are  fifty  days  of  the  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five  that  are  given  over  to  the  celebration  of  religious 
anniversaries,  some  political  or  martial  reminiscence,  or  birth-days  or 
saints'  days.  A  peculiar  custom  obtains  amongst  almost  all  Peruvian 
workmen  of  the  laboring  class,  of  knocking  oft"  work  on  Mondays,  which 
they  i^oijularly  term  "San  Lunes,"  or  Saint  Monday  ;  and. 

Third,  the  unfortunate  circumstance  existing  of  the  abundance  and 
cheapness  of  the  native  brandy,  made  from  the  Italia  grape,  and  termed 
aguardiente,  pisco  bianco,  &c.,  and  of  the  chicha,  an  intoxicating  com- 
pound produced  from  the  fermentation  of  grain  and  copiously  seasoned 
with  strong  liquor. 

The  Peruvians  of  the  lower  class,  male  and  female,  are  passion- 
ately addicted  to  these  beverages,  and  the  result  is  painfully  and  fre- 
quently noticeable  in  deficient  pay-rolls  and  crowded  calabooses.  In  the 
interior  the  Indians,  possessing  land  that  is  extraordinarily  fertile,  need 
only  till  their  ground  for  three  or  four  months  of  the  year ;  the  harvest- 
ing of  their  crops  of  maize,  potatoes,  and  "  garbanzos,"  similar  to  our 
lentiles,  requires  but  little  labor,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  twelve  months 
they  are  busily  engaged  in  feasting,  and  spend  their  easily-acquired 
subsistance. 

On  the  plantations,  estates,  and  mines  it  is  different,  for  there  the 
overseers  so  manage  to  keep  them  bound  as  regards  salary,  that  it  be- 
comes essential  to  labor  more  regularly. 

I -am  referring  now  to  the  Peruvians  who  hold  small  farms  or  "cha- 
caras."  It  will  be  readily  understood  that  these  habits  are,  in  a  measure, 
transmitted  to  and  adopted  by  the  Peruvian  workmen  on  the  coast," 
without  being  what  might  be  precisely  designated  as  indolent  or  lazy; 
a  few  days  of  hard  labor  are  always  rewarded  by  a  spell  of  idleness 
and  frequently  of  debauch. 

Of  course  there  are  many  exceptions  to  this  rule. 

With  regard  to  their  stability  of  character,  I  may  safely  say  that  no 
contractor  in  Peru  would  guarantee  to  terminate  his  undertaking  on  a 
fixed  day,  had  he  to  wholl}^  depend  on  the  assistance  of  the  lower  classes 
of  Peruvian  laborers. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    PERU.  231 

Artisans,  skilled  mechanics,  small  tradesmen,  and  the  like,  observe 
better  habits  from  a  sense  of  respectability  and  of  necessity.  Bnt  in 
my  opinion  nothing  conld  be  more  harmful  to  the  laborers  than  the 
incessant  recurrence  of  these  feast-dajs,  or  holidays,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  and  Church  authorities  to  cur- 
tail them,  the  custom  still  holds. 

Therefore,  as  a  class,  the  Peruvian  workman  cannot  be  considered  as 
steady  or,  as  a  general  thing,  trustworthy,  in  so  far  as  a  persevering 
application  to  labor  is  concerned. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER   AND  EMPLOY:^. 

As  to  the  feeling  between  employ^  and  employer,  I  would  pronounce 
it  in  the  main  as  friendly  and  considerate.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  that 
old  patriarchal  spirit  of  intercourse  yet  existing  that  was  general  in 
the  time  of  Spanish  domination,  on  the  coast,  and  the  emi^loy^s  in 
many  cases  regard  their  employers  as  a  sort  of  feudal  lords. 

Socialism  has  not  yet  taken  root  in  this  republic,  and  when  an  isolated 
attemj)t  at  general  robbery  and  spoliation  was  made  by  the  worst 
classes  of  Lima,  after  its  fall  in  1881,  it  was  so  effectually  stamped  out 
by  the  good  people  of  that  city,  Peruvian  and  foreign,  that  a  recurrence 
of  the  danger  is  not  dreaded. 

The  relatious  between  the  different  classes  of  the  community  are,  I 
think,  eminently  satisfactory.  I  except,  of  course,  the  transitory  ex- 
citement and  feelings  brought  into  existence  by  some  political  or  revo- 
lutionary disturbance. 

ORGANIZATION   OF  LABOR. 

Trades  unions  are  unknown  in  Peru.  The  artisans  and  some  classes 
of  laborers  have  guilds  established,  but  the  object  of  these  is  to  secure 
uniformity  of  action  when  engaged  on  questions  of  paying  duties  or 
trade  licenses  to  the  Government,  and  sometimes  to  dismiss  some  unruly 
or  unworthy  member. 

Neither  are  there  any  organizations  of  capital,  since  the  reason  does 
not  exist. 

STRIKES. 

During  ray  long  residence  in  Peru,  extending  over  twenty  years,  only 
two  strikes  have  come  within  my  notice,  and  those  within  the  past  few 
months.  In  both  cases  the  matters  were  promptly  and  amicably  ar- 
ranged, both  of  the  interested  parties  making  concessions. 

FOOD  PURCHASE. 

I  have  never  learned  of  an  instance  where  the  liberty  of  food  pur- 
chase was  restricted.  With  the  exception  of  the  mines  in  the  interior, 
and  the  nitrate  works  at  Tarapac<4,  there  are  no  general  provision 
depots  connected  with  industrial  establishments,  excepting,  of  course, 
on  the  large  sugar-producing  plantations  that  are  remote  from  towns  or 
villages. 

The  laborers  are  paid  according  to  contract  by  week,  day,  or  month, 
and  in  silver,  or  its  equivalent  in  paper  money,  which  is  more  conven- 
ient for  ordinary  daily  transactions. 


232  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA  :    PERU. 

CO-OPERATIVE    SOCIETIES. 

These  are  as  yet  unknown  in  Peru.  The  general  condition  of  the 
working  people  has  already  been  described  in  this  report. 

SAFETY   OF  EMPLOYES. 

Ordinary  precautions  are  taken  for  the  safety  of  employes  in  factories' 
mines,  on  railways,  &c.  The  character  of  the  buildings  in  Peru,  spa' 
cious  and  low,  does  away  with  the  necessity  of  fire  escapes,  there  not 
being  one  of  these  appliances  in  this  republic.  I  know  of  no  provision 
made  for  the  workman  in  case  of  accident.  Such  cases  are  so  extremely 
rare  that  no  standard  has  been  established,  but  I  am  clear  on  the  point 
that  as  a  general  thing  the  employers  are  liberal  to  a  degree  with  those 
who  may  become  incapacitated  in  their  service. 

COOLIE  LABOR  IN   PERU 

In  this  relation  I  must,  however,  except  the  cases  of  the  Chinese 
laborers  on  the  sugar  and  agricultural  properties. 

Now  that  the  supply  of  labor  from  China  has  wholly  disappeared  the 
planters  are  of  necessity  obliged  to  treat  the  few  coolies  they  have 
under  contract  with  consideration  and  care,  but  in  former  years  the 
lot  of  a  Chinese  laborer  on  a  plantation  was  a  miserably  unhappy  one. 
As  soou  as  their  contracted  terms  expire,  the  Chinese  seek  new  occu- 
pations, generally  in  the  cities  where  they  become  domestic  servants, 
or  open  small  cheap  condas  or  eating  houses.  Many  of  them  remain 
on  the  plantations,  but  as  free  laborers,  receiving  fair  wages,  and  re- 
leased from  the  absolute  control  exercised  over  them  during  the  term 
of  their  obligatory  servitude.  The  number  of  Chinese  to-day  in  Peru  is 
calculated  at  forty  thousand,  scattered  throughout  the  republic  as  far 
south  as  Mollendo. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

The  working  men,  Peruvians,  have  the  same  political  rights  that  are 
granted  to  all  the  citizens  of  Peru  under  the  constitution. 

They  possess  the  right  to  vote  at  all  elections  but  their  innate  in- 
fluence is  insignificant,  as  in  the  very  great  majority  of  instances  they 
obey  the  orders  and  follow  the  views  of  some  personal  favorite. 

There  is  no  poll-tax  in  Peru.  The  heavy  contributions  are  laid  on 
landed  property,  and  on  the  privilege  of  doing  business.  Therefore 
the  workmen  are  almost  wholly  exempt  from  the  burden  of  aiding 
financially  in  the  support  of  the  government. 

EMIGRATION. 

There  is  no  emigration  from  Peru.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
hundred  i)eoi)le  who  left  this  country  for  California  in  the  days  of  the 
gold  excitement,  I  can  hear  of  no  further  instances  of  emigration. 

FEMALE   LABOR   IN   PERU. 

With  regard  to  female  labor  and  the  labor  of  children  in  this  republic, 
outside  of  purely  domestic  products,  there  is  nothing  to  be  said,  for  the 
reason  that  such  labor  is  not  emj^loyed. 


LABOR  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA:  PERU. 


233 


At  the  cotton-cloth  factory  of  Santa  Chira,  20  miles  from  Lima  up 
the  Oroj-a  Railway,  there  are  a  few,  probably  twenty-five  or  thirty, 
women  engaged  in  the  more  delicate  i)ortions  of  the  mannfacture,  but, 
so  fiiT  as  1  can  learn,  this  is  the  solitary  exception.  In  the  far  interior 
the  women  sometimes  labor  together  with  their  husbands  or  brothers 
on  their  little  farms,  but  I  scarcely  thinlc  that  this  instance  is  comprised 
in  the  interrogatory  made  by  the  Department. 

In  conclusion  I  hope  it  will  be  remembered,  when  taking  this  report 
into  consideration,  that  the  existing  state  of  affairs  and  labor  in  Peru 
is  i)articularl3-  referred  to,  and  w^ere  we  again  in  normal  and  prosperous, 
times,  the  condition  of  tlie  laborer,  the  prospects  of  emolument  and 
advantage,  and  the  sphere  of  his  action  might  certainly  be  portrayed 
in  a  highly  favorable  and  even  inviting  light. 

H.  M.  BRENT, 
Acting  Consul. 

Consulate  of  the  United  States, 

Callao,  May  5,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  in  Lima  and  Callao. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 


Bricklayers 

Hoil- carriers. 
Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers  

Tenders 

Carpenters 

Gas-litters 


.per  day. 

do-.. 

....do... 


.do... 
.do... 
.do... 
.do... 


OTHER  TRADES. 


Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Book-binders 

Brick-makers 

Brewers 

Butcliers  

Cabinet-makers , 

Con  fectiouers 

Cifjar-makers 

Coopers 

Drivers : 

Draymen  and  teamsters. 

Street  railways 

Engravers 

Gardeners 

Hatters ^ 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  poiters,  &c 

Litliof^raphers 

Print  I'rs 

Teaclicrs  (public  schools)... 
Saddle  and  harness  makers.. 

Stevedores 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Tek'i;raph  operators 

TiDsmiths 


....  per  day. 

do.'.. 

do... 

do... 

do... 

.per  month. 

per  day. 

do... 

do... 

do... 

do... 


.per  month. 

do... 

per  day. 

.per  month. 

per  day. 

do... 

do... 

do... 

do... 

per  month. 

per  day. 

do... 

do... 

do... 

.per  month. 
per  day. 


Lowest. 


$1  64 
82 

2  46 
82 

1  64 
82 

1  48 


40 
2  05 
1  00 
1  34 
1  64 
82  30 

1  64 

2  46 
60 

"i"oo 

12  00 
28  75 

3  29 
20  00 


1  50 

1  64 

33 

3  29 

1  34 
41  15 

2  46 
82 
82 

1  64 

49  38 

1  00 


Highest. 


$2  46 

1  00 

2  46 
82 

2  46 
1  00 
1  64 


82 
3  29 

1  50 
3  29 

2  46 
82  30 

2  46 

2  46 
82.3 

tl  20 
1  50 

16  00 
28  75 

3  29 
20  00 

1  50 

3  00 

82 

3  29 

1  80 
60  00 

2  46 
82 
82 

1  04 

49  38 

1  50 


*  Per  Job. 


t  Average. 


234  LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    PERU. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  in  ice  factory  and  hreivery  of  Backus  <f  Johnston,  Lima. 
[Hours  of  labor,  nine  per  day.] 


Occupations. 


Business  manager per  montli. 

Assistant  manager do — 

Brewer — do. .. 

Master  machanic do  — 

Engineers per  day. 

Assistant  engineers do... 

Firemen : 

Pirst  class do... 

Second  class do . . . 

Carpenter per  month. 

Assistant  carpenter per  day. 

Cartmen do . . . 

Factory  hands do . . . 


Lowest. 


$1  25 

82 

1  25 
82 
82  30 
82 
82 
33 


Highest, 


$246  00 

205  00 

82  30 

125  75 

1  64 

1  25 

1  64 
1  25 


1  25 

1  64 

82 


Note. — There  is  one  cotton  cloth-factory  near  Lima,  where  the  wages  paid  are  about  25  per  cent, 
under  those  given  above.     The  wages  paid  at  the  woolen-cloth  factory  at  Cuzco  are  not  known  in  Lima. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  in  shops  of  the  Oroya  Eaihvay* 
[Hours  of  labor,  nine  per  day.] 


Occupations. 


Foreman  of  shop per  month. . 

Foreman  blacksmith do 

Foremiin  founder do 

Foreman  of  carpenter  shop do 

Foreman  of  paint  shop do 

Machinists per  day . . 

Assistants do 

Blacksmiths  do 

Assistants do 

Molders  in  foundry - do 

Laborers    do 

Carpenters do 

Assistants do 

Car  repairers do 

Car  cleaners do 

Paiuters do 


Lowest. 


$102  82 
102  82 
74  07 
74  07 

1  96 
65 

2  05 
98 

1  81 
82 

1  48 
82 
82 
82 


Highest. 


$123  45 

102  82 

102  82 

74  07 

74  67 

2  63 
1  66 

3  29 

1  31 

2  05 
1  23 
1  64 
1  31 
1  64 

82 
1  66 


*  The  foundry  and  machine-shops  of  the  Oroya  Eailway  may  be  taken  as  a  representative  of  the 
class. 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  in  and  in  conneetion  tvith  silver-prodndng  mines  in  the  central  departments  of 

Peru. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Chief  of  the  mine per  month.. 

Chief  of  the  lead do... 

Pickmen per  day.. 

Ore  carriers  (hide  buckets) do 

Assistants do 

Ore  pickers  and  selectors do  — 


$32  92 
19  57 
50 
40 
20 
50 


$41  15 
24  69 
50 
40 
20 
50 


Note.— Wages  are  generally  paid  every  fortnight.  The  majority  of  mines  have  provision  depots 
attached.  Some  of  the  peons'  or  workmen  do  double  duty,  working  at  night,  and  gain  double  pay. 
Many  workmen  labor  on  contract  agreements,  receiving  so  much  per  running  meter  or  so  much  per 
quintal  (hundred-weight),  according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground. 

The  "cajon  "  of  metal-bearing  ore,  thestandard,  is  60  quintals  or  hundred-weight.  The  marco  or  mark 
of  silver  is  eight  ounces,  and  the  technical  phraseology  is  "so  many  marcos  to  the  cajon." 


LABOR  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA:  PERU. 


'AS5 


VI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  employh  {thoae  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  c)'c.)  in  Peru. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Station  agents per  month . 

Teleirraph  operators* do... 

Ticket  .sellers* do... 

Locomotive  engineers do . . . 

Firemen per  day . 

Coal  passers do . . . 

Wipers do . . . 

Wipers per  night. 

Conductors per  mouth . 

Brakeraen  per  day. 

Baggagemen do. .. 

Basgage-maaters per  month. 

Porters  and  laborers per  day. 

Linemen  do... 

Watchmen do. .. 

Freight  agents  per  month. 

Freight  assistants do... 

Yard  masters do... 


Highest. 


$49  38 
49  38 


82  30 

1  45 

98 

82 

1  25 

61  72 

82 

82 

41  15 

82 

49 

82 

82  30 

24  69 

74  07 


$102  87 

49  38 

49  38 

123  45 

1  45 

98 

82 

1  25 

102  00 

98 

1  31 

41  15 

1  23 

82 

98 

82  30 

65  74 

74  07 


*  Telegraph  operators  and  ticket  sellers  are  generally  combined. 
■Note. — These  are  the  salaries  and  -wages  paid  on  the  Lima,  Callao  and  Oroya  KaUway,  -n-hich  may 
be  taken  as  a  representative. 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  in  Peru. 


Occupations. 

Lowest.  '  Highest. 

$8  20 

$20  00 

Note. — It  must  he  taken  into  consideration  when  giving  this  general  answer,  that  Pern  has  no  steam 
marine,  and  her  merchant  marine  is  composed  of  a  few  dozen  of  coasting  schooners  and  siuacks,  carrying 
f  rait  and  fire-wood  from  one  port  to  the  other.  Now  that  peace  is  declared  with  Chili,  the  Peruvian  flag 
will  probably  resume  its  place  on  many  vessels  that  for  safety's  sake,  changed  nationality  during  the 
war.  The  Peruvians  aa  a  general  thing  do  not  make  good  sailors.  From  Sechura,  a  point  near  Payta, 
however,  good  men  may  be  obtained,  and  it  is  a  notable  circumstance  that  the  officers  of  the  Peru^■ian 
navy  who  most  distinguished  themselves  in  the  recent  war  were  from  the  north  of  the  Kepublic. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  seventy  hours  in  ^varehouses,  and  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males 

in  Lima.  Peru. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Salesmen 

Book-keepers 

Cashiers 

General  clerks  and  shopmen 

Junior  clerks 

Shop  boys  

Messengers  and  porters 


$37  00 
28  00 
28  00 
28  00 
18  00 
4  00 
4  00 


$74  00 
56  00 
56  00 
43  00 
28  00 
12  00 
12  00 


$50  00 
35  00 
35  00 
30  00 
20  00 
6  00 
6  00 


Note. — Female  labor  in  Peru  is  almost  unknown  save  as  domestics  and  in  millinery  establishments. 


236  LABOR  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA:  PERU. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Lima  and  Callao. 


Occupations. 


Mayordomo  (bntler) 

Second  major  domo  (butler).. 

Boy  of  all  work 

Cooks : 

Chinese 

Native 

Amas  de  Have  (houskeepers) 

Seamstresses 

Nurses 

Wet  nurses 

Porters 

Coachmen , 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$8  20 

$16  40 

6  00 

10  00 

4  00 

6  00 

8  20 

12  00 

8  20 

12  00 

12  00 

16  40 

*1  25 

*2  00 

16  40 

16  40 

20  00 

20  00 

6  00 

6  00 

20  00 

20  00 

Average. 


$12  00 
6  00 

5  00 

8  20 
8  20 
14  00 
*1  25 
16  40 
20  00 

6  00 
20  00 


*■  Per  day. 

Note. — In  hotels  and  on  board  the  passenger  steamers  male  servants  are  exclusively  employed. 

Seveutj'-five  per  cent,  of  the  cooks  in  Lima  and  Oallao  are  Chinese,  originally  coolies,  but  who  have 
worked  out  their  contracts,  and  have  settled  in  Pern. 

There  are  probably  few  cities  in  the  world  where  domestic  services  are  so  indifferently  performed  as 
in  Lima,  and  for  the  first  time,  a  few  weeks  .since,  a  police  regulation  was  established,  obliging  servants 
and  masters  to  give  "  warning,"  a  custom  heretofore  unknown. 

XL  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household- {country)  servants  in  Peru  {sugar  es- 
tates and  others). 


Occupations. 


Cashier per  month. 

First  engineer  machinist do.. . 

Second  engineer  machinist do . . . 

Collector do.. . 

Field  overseer do.. . 

Apothecary do  . . 

Warehouseman do 

Storekeeper do.. . 

Sugar-boiler do. .. 

Distiller do . . . 

Caporales  (foreman) do... 

Black  and  copper  smith do. .. 

Turner do.. . 

Cattle  driver  or  herdser do . . . 


Average 

wages. 

*$28  80 

*200  00 

*60  00 

t20  00 

*15  00 

tl7  00 

tl7  00 

tl7  00 

tl7  00 

tl5  00 

tlO  00 

120  00 

t8  00 

tl7  00 

Occupations. 


Stable-keeper per  month . . 

Native  and  Chinese  laborers,  in  manu- 
factory   per  day . . 

Sugar-packer do  . . . 

Field  hands do 

Manager,  assistant do  ... 

Plowmen do 

Irrigators do 

Mud  fence  makers do 

Sowers     do 

Gardener do 

Cook per  month.. 

Donkey  drivers,  muleteers. .  .per  day . . 


Average 


t$9  00 

130 
1  00 

:4o 

t20  00 

§40 

§35 

§40 

§35 

§40 

tlO  00 

30 

to  40 


*  With  board  for  self  and  family. 
t  With  rations  for  self. 


t  Two  pounds  rice  each  daily. 
I  Rice  ration. 


XII.  Corporation  employes. 


The  mayor    (alcalde)  and  common  councilors  ("municipales"  and 
"  sindicos  ")  of  Lima,  have  no  salary. 

The  different  branches  of  the  jjublic  servive,  such  as  street  cleaning, 
tbe  slaughter-house,  the  contracts  for  lighting-  the  streets,  and  for  police 
duty,  «&c.,  are  farmed  out  at  auction  to  the  highest  bidder,  who  col- 
lects from  the  citizens  the  taxes  or  contributions  imposed  for  such  serv- 
ice, conducts  the  same,  and  the  municipality  simply  deputes  one  of  its 
members  to  act  as  an  inspector  over  the  contractor.  The  few  employes 
in  the  municipality  are  the  secretaries,  comptroller  of  statistics,  treas- 
urer, amanuenses,  and  clerks.  Their  yearly  salaries  range  from  $2,050 
to  $493. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    ECUADOR. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 


237 


Wages  paid  to  employis  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of  tradesmen  and 

laborers,  in  Peru. 

I  find  it  impossible  to  answer  this  interrogatory.  The  whole  staff  of 
Government  employes  is  now  on  half  pay,  and  what  with  the  sum  placed 
on  one  side  for  pension  fund,  war  discount,  &c.,  it  would  be  almost  out 
of  the  question  to  arrive  at  any  exact  figures.  In  normal  times  the  salar- 
ies are  more  or  less  as  follows,  per  annum  : 


Occupations. 

Salary. 

Occupations. 

Salary. 

Minister  of  state 

S4,  938  00 
2,  469  00 
1,.340  00 
1,  340  00 

1  650  00 

Chief  clerk  of  ilepartnient 

1    QOQ    00 

Cashier 

400  00 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen,  proof-readers  ^c.)  in 

Lima  and  Callao,  Peru. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Foremen 

per  month.. 

$57  61 
2  00 

1  75 

2  00 
2  00 

2  00 

3  29 

Pressmen 

per  day. . 

$1  34 
1  34 
1  34 
1  34 
1  34 

$2  46 

2  05 

3  00 
3  29 
3  29 
3  29 
3  29 

Proof-readers 

Book-binders 

do.... 

do.... 

do 

Litliographers 

do.... 

Engravers 

dn 

3  29 

.  Note. — There  is  no  no  Government  printing  ofiBce  on  a  large  scale  in  Peru.  That  now  existing 
which  was  probably  the  finest  in  South  America  before  the  recent  war  with  Chill,  was  despoiled  o^ 
its  most  valuable  plant  during  the  recent  war. 


ECUADOR. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  BEACH,  OF  GUAYAQUIL. 
conditions   in   lower   and   upper  ECUADOR. 

In  presenting  the  information  requested  by  Department  of  State  cir- 
cular of  February  15, 1884,  it  is  essential  at  the  outset  that  the  explana- 
tion be  made  that  as  relating  both  to  wages  and  cost  of  living  in  Ec- 
uador, that  the  country  e^nbraces  two  distinct  sections — sections  having 
a  greater  contrast  of  prices  than  exists  in  almost  any  other  country,  and 
with  a  broader  difference  than  often  exists  between  any  two  countries. 
Geographically  these  two  sections  are  Guayaquil  and  the  lower  provinces, 
and  Quito  and  the  upper  provinces.  The  chief  cause  of  the  differences 
in  prices  prevailing  in  the  two  sections  is  the  cost  of  transportation  from 
one  to  the  other,  which  has  to  be  done  on  the  backs  of  mules  and 
donkeys,  occui)ying  from  six  to  nine  days,  and  costing  84  per  100 
pounds.  This  large  cost  of  transportation  works  as  a  prohibition  against 
an  exchange  of  commodities,  and  against  the  sale  for  cash  of  commodi- 


238  LABOR   IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    ECUADOR. 

ties  produced  in  one  section  in  the  other.  Hides  and  a  few  other  articles, 
except  liides  of  little  value  or  importance,  are  taken  from  Quito  to  Guay- 
aquil ;  and  from  Guayaquil  there  is  sent  to  Quito  dry  goods,  crockery, 
cutlery,  and  drugs  and  medicines.  These  articles  are  more  expensive 
at  Quito  and  in  the  upper  provinces  than  at  Guayaquil  and  in  the  lower 
provinces.  But  the  general  articles  of  food  do  not  cost  more  than  one- 
half  as  much  in  the  upper  provinces  as  in  the  lower,  rents  are  correspond- 
ingly low,  aud  wages  likewise.  The  tabular  statement  of  wages  here- 
with presented  is  for  the  lower  provinces,  except  in  one  or  two  instances 
as  otherwise  noted,  and  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of  the  wages  of  the 
whole  country,  the  wages  of  the  upper  half  of  the  country,  including 
Quito  and  the  upper  provinces,  should  be  rated  at  one-half  of  those  given 
in  the  tables.  This  will  be  very  accurate.  Quito  is  not  only  the  high- 
est city  in  the  world  in  point  of  altitude,  but  the  lowest  in  the  world, 
as  regards  the  expense  of  living.  At  the  best  hotels,  and  very  good 
ones  they  are,  meals  cost  but  $15  a  mouth,  meals  for  one  day  can  be  ob- 
tained at  good  restaurants  at  from  25  to  30  cents,  and  at  common  res- 
taurants for  a  very  insignificant  sum.  Servants  of  either  sex  can  be 
employed  at  from  10  to  20  cents  a  day. 

For  general  convenience  all  prices  have  been  reduced  to  and  are  ren- 
dered in  United  States  currency. 

COST   OF  LIVINa. 

The  men  performing  manual  labor,  who  have  families,  pay  from  $1  to 
$2  a  week  for  house  rent.  Their  main  living  is  soups  and  bread.  Whole- 
some and  nutritious  soups  are  made  by  combining  coarse  pieces  of  meat 
costing  from  5  to  8  cents  a  pound,  with  plantain  and  native  vegetables, 
which  are  not  very  expensive.  The  food  of  a  family  of  from  four  to  six 
persons  will  cost  from  30  to  50  cents  per  day.  The  climate  is  so  uni- 
formly warm  that  but  little  clothing  or  bedding  is  required,  and  no  fuel 
is  necessary  except  for  use  in  cooking.  A  family  outfit  is  often  com- 
prised in  a  few  low-priced  hammocks,  and  a  few  iron  dishes  for  cooking 
the  food. 

Single  laboring  men  sleep  almost  anywhere  at  from  no  cost  to  $1  a 
week,  and  obtain  their  meals  at  low-priced  restaurants  at  from  15  to  30 
cents  a  day.  Clerks  and  book-keepers,  if  single,  hire  lodging  rooms  at 
from  $2  to  $5  a  week,  and  obtain  their  meals  at  from  $15  to  $30  a  mouth. 
Those  who  have  families  and  keep  house  pay  monthly  rents  ranging 
from  $20  to  $50.  The  cost  of  living  for  families  of  the  better  grade  is 
according  to  the  style,  and  may  be  quite  small  or  large.  To  live  in 
"  good  style  "  is  more  expensive  than  living  in  the  same  style  in  the 
United  States. 

The  prices  of  articles  that  go  to  make  up  the  expense  of  liviog  in 
Guayaquil  may  thus  be  enumerated :  Meats  by  the  pound,  10  to  15  cents ; 
fish  by  the  pound,  5  cents  ;  sugar  by  the  pound,  4  to  15  cents ;  rice  by 
the  pound,  4  to  5  cents ;  wheat  flour  by  the  pound,  7  to  10  cents  ;  corn 
meal  by  the  pound,  4  to  5  cents  ;  beans  by  the  pound,  3  to  6  cents  ;  ice 
by  the  pound,  10  cents  ;  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes  by  the  pound,  2  to  3 
cents  ;  plantains  and  bananas,  by  the  hundred,  15  to  20  cents  ;  charcoal 
by  the  bushel,  30  to  40  cents  ;  eggs  by  the  dozen,  30  cents ;  milk  by  the 
quart,  10  to  20  cents  ;  water  by  the  18  gallon,  10  to  20  cents.  Cloth- 
ing, dry  goods,  crockery,  hardware,  drugs  and  medicines,  furniture, 
and  all  other  imported  articles,  cost  from  one-half  more  to  twice  their 
cost  at  the  places  from  which  they  are  imported.  The  imported  articles 
are  used  only  to  a  very  restricted  extent  by  the  manual  labor  class. 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    ECUADOR.  239 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

Wages  have  not  changed  within  the  recollection  of  old  residents. 
The  working  class  in  the  main  lives  for  to-day,  letting  to-morrow  care 
for  itself.  This  (;lass  works  snthcient  to  earn  a  subsistence,  but  exhausts 
no  energies  in  efforts  at  accumulation.  The  cause  is  an  example  handed 
down  from  age  to  age  aud  generation.  The  tendency  is  to  follow  in  a 
beaten  track,  to  do  things  now  as  they  were  done  last  year,  or  ten  or 
fifty  years  ago.  They  are  not  hostile  to  innovations  and  new  things ; 
but  they  do  not  seek  them,  and  only  accept  them  when  it  is  easier  to 
accept  than  to  cast  aside.  The  peoi)le  are  docile,  especially  the  largely 
predominating  Indian  element.  A  good  feeling  usually  exists  between 
employes  and  emi)loyers,  but  without  any  discernible  effect  on  general 
pros})erity.  There  are  no  organizations  among  laborers  nor  among 
employers.  There  are  no  disagreements,  no  strikes,  no  arbitrations,  and 
no  riots.  The  laborers  are  free  to  purchase  their  supplies  where  they 
choose;  but  for  convenience,  and  perhaps  profit,  the  owners  of  large 
estates  i)rovide  supplies  for  those  employed.  In  the  villages  and  cities 
all  payments  for  labor  are  made  in  money,  and  without  any  restriction 
as  to  how  or  vrhere  it  should  be  used.  Common  laborers  are  paid  every 
week.  Clerks,  book-keepers,  and  others  employed  in  stores  or  the  pub- 
lic service  are  paid  monthly.  All  are  paid  in  the  currency  of  the  coun- 
try. 

LABOR  ORGANIZATIONS. 

All  secret  societies  are  prohibited,  and  there  are  no  labor  organiza- 
tions or  co-operative  associations.  The  laboring  class  has  a  great  field 
for  improvement  in  method  of  living  and  in  education.  Morally  and 
physically  this  class  here  ai)pears  to  compare  favorably  with  the  same 
class  elsewhere.  The  working  class  without  property  pays  no  tax.  The 
workinguien  are  entitled  to  vote  if  citizens  of  the  country.  They  do  not 
exert  any  political  influence,  that  is  divided  between  the  church  and 
military  leaders.  There  is  no  mentionable  emigration  or  immigration, 
and  the  births  and  deaths  being  very  equal,  the  total  population  is 
maintained  year  after  year  with  great  uniformity. 

FEMALE  LABOR. 

The  females  so  far  as  employed  for  wages  are  mostly  servants,  teachers, 
and  laundresses.  Xone  of  them  are  clerks,  artists,  chemists,  hotel  and 
boarding-house  keepers,  journalists,  professional  musicians,  inventors, 
bankers,  brokers,  lecturers,  preachers,  public  speakers,  or  compositors. 
They  are  not  employeil  to  work  in  the  fields  or  factories.  From  the  best 
information  obtainable  it  does  not  appear  that  their  wages,  compensa- 
tion, or  general  condition  has  changed  during  the  last  fifty  years. 

CONTENTMENT   OF  THE  LABORING  CLASSES. 

The  great  uniformity  of  wages  ])aid  for  skilled  labor  in  the  different 
vocations  is  a  noteworthy  fact.  There  are  an  abundance  of  laboring 
people  in  Ecuador.  There  is  no  iniportant  development  of  new  enter- 
prises, and  there  are  no  signs  that  either  the  rate  of  wages  or  the  gen- 
eral condition  of  the  working  class  will  be  changed  for  many  years  to 
come.     When  there  is  a  great  change  it  must  result  from  external  influ- 


240 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    ECUADOR. 


ences.  The  working  class  appears  to  be  much  more  contented  with  its 
condition  here  than  the  same  class  in  those  countries  where  a  greater 
degree  of  intelligence  and  a  higher  order  of  civilization  abounds. 

HORATIO  N.  BEACH, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Guayaquil,  May  27,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  toeeh  of  sixty  hours  in  Guayaquil. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

$6  00 

3  60 

6  00 

3  60 

6  00 

3  60 

6  00 

3  60 

7  00 

5  00 

9  00 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

3  60 

6  00 

6  00 

8  00 

9  00 

9  00 

6  00 

4  00 

9  00 

12  00 

8  00 

8  00 

8  00 

7  00 

9  00 

7  00 

10  00 

10  00 

3  60 

18  00 

2  50 

6  00 

8  00 

6  00 

9  00 

7  00 

6  00 

27  00 

6  00 

1  50 

6  00 

8  00 

3  60 

Highest.    A-verage. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Eoofers,  tile 

Tenders 

Plumbers 

Assistants 

Carpenters 

Gas-fitters 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmitlis 

Strikers 

Book-binders 

Brick-makers 

Butchers 

Brass-founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

Distillers 

Drivers 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab  and  carriage 

street  railway 

Engravers 

Hatters 

Horseslioers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Millwrights, 

Potters , 

Printers  

Teachers,  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Stevedores  

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Quito — weavers  (in  mills)  

Shoemakers 

Barbers 

Street-pavers 


$9  00 
6  00 
9  00 
6  00 
9  00 
6  00 
9  00 

6  00 
12  00 

7  00 
12  00 
12  00 


12  00 

12  00 

6  00 

9  00 

9  00 

10  00 

12  00 

12  00 

12  00 

10  00 

12  00 

12  00 

10  00 

10  00 

10  00 

9  00 

12  00 
9  00 

14  00 

13  00 
12  00 
25  00 

3  00 
12  00 
10  00 
12  00 

9  00 

9  00 
12  00 
27  00 
12  00 

2  10 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 


87  50 
4  50 
7  50 
4  50 
7  50 
4  50 

7  50 
4  50 

10  00 

6  00 

10  00 

8  00 


10  00 
9  00 

5  00 
7  5Q 

7  50 
9  00 

10  00 

10  00 

9  00 

8  00 
10  00 
12  00 

9  00 
9  00 
9  00 

8  00 

9  00 
8  00 

12  00 
12  00 

8  00 
20  00 

2  75 
10  00 

9  00 
10  00 

9  00 

8  00 
10  00 
27  00 
10  00 

1  80 

9  00 
10  00 

6  50 


Note. — The  butchers  are  employed  on  Sundays  the  same  as  other  days ;  likewise  the  coach-drivers. 
The  barber-shops  are  open  Sunday  forenoons.  The  telegraph  offices  are  open  every  Sunday  at  stated 
hours. 


LAUOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    ECUADOR. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc;. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Guayaquil,  Ectiador. 


241 


Occupatious. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$4  20 

12  00 

C  00 

6  00 

$12  00 
12  00 
12  00 
10  00 

$8  00 
12  00 

Chocolate  fai'torii-8  

8  00 
8  00 

Bottlers  of  mineral  ivaters 

l<fOTS.— The  ice  factories  are  operated  on  Snndajs  the  same  as  other  days. 


III.  Foundries,  machine  shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hourt>  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works  in  Guaya- 
quil, Ecuador. 


Occapations. 

Lowest. 

Highest 

Average. 

Common  laborers 

\ 

$3  60 

7  50 

20  00 

25  00 

$6  00 

12  00 
25  00 
50  00 

$4  50 
10  00 

Meclisiiiics 

Foreincu .   ,. 

■  22  00 

Engiueei  3 

35  00 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  week  oj  forty-eight  hours  in  and  in  connection  iciih  Zarumti  mines  in  Ecu4x- 

dor. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$4  20 
10  00 

16  00 
25  00 

$4  50 
18  00 

VI.  Railway  employ:6s. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  en- 
•    -v  i  J    9'^god  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  <f'c. )  in  Ecuador, 


Occupations. 


Con(lnrtor.s : 

Railway 

Street   

Drivers,  street    

15rakeiiieu,  railway  

Track  repaiiers,  railway. 

Switilmien,  railway 

Engineers,  railway 


Lowest.    Highest. 


$28  00 
3«  00 
28  00 
32  00 
20  00 
20  00 

100  00 


$45  00 
46  00 
36  00 
32  00 
20  00 
20  00 

100  00 


Average. 


NoTX. — All  streot-car  employes  work  on  Sundays  the  same  as  other  days. 
92  A— 2  LAB lu 


$40  00 
40  00 
30  00 
32  00 
20  00 
20  00 

100  00 


242 


LABOR    IN    SOUTH    AMERICA:    ECUADOR. 

VII.  Ship-yards  and  shipbuilding. 


Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  sixty  Jiours  in  ship-yards  {all  wood  shipbuilding)  in    Guayaquil, 

Ecuador. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Common  labor 

Skilled  woikiueu  . 
Foremen 


$3  60 
6  00 
12  00 


Highest. 


$6  00 
12  00 
18  00 


Average. 


$4  50 
10  00 
15  00 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men)  in  Ecuador. 


Occupations. 


Small  sailing;  vessels 

Small  local  steaiueis  .  -  . . 
Engineers,  local  steamers. 
Captains,  local  steameis. . . 
Pursers,  local  steamers  — 
Stewards,  local  steamers.. 


Lowest. 

Highest.. 

$8  00 

$15  00 

10  00 

20  00 

40  00 

40  00 

70  00 

70  00 

40  00 

40  00 

30  00 

30  00 

Average. 


$1'2  00 
16  00 
40  00 
70  00 
40  00 
30  00 


Note. — All  classes  of  vessels  are  operated  on  Sundays  as  other  days. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  iveelc,  of  forty-eight  hours  in  %vholesnle,  seventy-eight  hours  in  retail,  stores, 
to  males,  in  Guayaquil. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Book-keeper $14  00 

-     -- 26  00 


Cashier . 

Clerk 

Coriespondent 
Poi  ter 


10  00 

26  00 
3  00 


Highest. 


$16  00 
20  00 
15  00 
26  00 
4  00 


Average. 


$20  00 

20  00 

12  00 

26  00 

3  50 


Note. — Many  of  the  retail  stores  are  kept  open  all  day  Sunday,  and  all  of  them  during  the  forenoon. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  lower  provinces  of  Ecu- 
ador. 


Cooks 

Men  servants  — 
Female  servants. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


$8  00 
8  00 
5  00 


Highest. 


$12  00 
12  00 
10  00 


Average. 


$10  00 
10  00 
0  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wagm  paid  per  day  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  Ecuador. 


Occupations. 


Men  laborers,  boarded 

Men  laborcr-s,  without  board  . 
Women  servants,  with  board 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$0  30 
50 
10 

$0  50 
70 
20 

Average. 


$0  40 
60 
15 


LABOR  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA:  ECUADOR. 
XII.  CORPOEATION  EMPLOYES. 

WagcJi  paid  per  mo)iilt  to  the  corporalion  employes  in  the  city  of  Guayaquil. 


243 


Occupations. 


Chief  of  police - '  $200  00 

As.si8tant  cliief  of  police 140  00 

Police  Sfigcants 50  00 

Policonieu ; 40  00 

Comiiiou  laborers 36  00 

Street  cleaners 1  36  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and   offices. 

U'ages  paid  per  month   to  employes  in   Government  departments    and  offices — exclusice  Oj 
tradenmen  and  laborers — in  Guayaquil. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Governor  of  province 

Guayaquil  collector  of  customs $175  00 

Guayaquil  postmaster  .  ll j       175  00 

Clerks  and  book-keepers 1        35  00 


Highest. 


Customs  stevedorfls 
General  of  army 
Colonel  of  :irmy. 
C:iptaiu  of  army. 
Major  of  army  ... 
Corporal  of  army. 
Common  soldier.. 


30  00 


$175  00 
175  00 
70  00 
3G  00 


Average 


$200 
175 
175 
60 
36 
200 
12c 
4f 
6f 
ll 


Note. — On  "  ship  days  "  the  custom-house  and  post-office  are  open  for  the  discharge  of  cargo,  ta 
on  of  cargo,  clearance  of  vessels,  and  the  receipt  and  making  up  of  the  mails.  The  other  work  is 
pended  for  the  day. 


XIV.  Trades  and  labor— Government  employ. 

Wages  paidhy  the  week  of  sixty  hours'  to  the  trades  and  laborers  in  Government  emi 

Guayaquil. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Stevedores  .. 
Lightermen . 


Note. — The  lightennen  work  the  same  on  Sundays  as  other  days. 


XV.  Printers  and   printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  pressmen, 
prooj'-readers,  cf'^.,)  inGuayayail. 


Occupations. 


Printers 

Pressmen 

Proof-readers 
Foremen 


Lowest. 


$6  00 
10  00 
12  00 
15  00 


Highest. 


$12  00 

14  00 
17  00 

15  00 


Average. 


$10  00 
12  00 
15  00 
15  00 


244       LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    BRITISH    WEST    INDIES. 


WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS. 


BRITISH  WEST  INDIES. 
THE  B^H^MIAS. 

liEPORT  BY  CONSUL  MLAIN. 

lu  response  to  the  labor  circular  issued  b.y  the  Department  of  State, 
under  date  of  February  15,  1884, 1  beji,'  to  submit  the  following  report : 

The  character  of  labor  and  the  conditions  which  surround  it  in  this 
colony  are  so  peculiar  and  so  different  from  those  which  prevail  in 
Europe,  for  which  continent  the  circuhir  before  me  was  prepared,  that 
I  have  deemed  it  advisable  to  discard  to  a  great  extent  the  printed  in- 
terrogatories and  schedules  furnished,  and  to  submit,  as  far  as  possible, 
in  a  dilferent  method,  the  information  sought  for. 

THE  CHARACTER  OF  OUR  LABOR. 

There  are  no  mills,  foundries,  iron  works,  glass  works,  mines,  or  rail- 
ways in  this  colony.  The  only  industries  in  that  line  are  the  Marine 
Eailway  at  Nassau  and  one  or  two  factories  for  the  canning  of  pineap- 
ples.  The  labor  of  the  people  is  coutined  substantially  to  agriculture, 
simple  mechanical  pursuits,  trading,  tishing,  sponging,  wrecking,  cut- 
ting woods,  salt-making,  and  ship-building. 

RATES   OF   WAGES. 

Agricultitral  laborers. — T  presume  there  are  5,000  or  G,000  men,  women, 
and  children  engaged  in  agriculture  and  in  the  rough  out  door  work  of 
the  plantation.  Wages  paid  to  adult  male  laborers  are  from  30  to  50 
cents  per  day  of  nine  hours;  average,  about  42  cents,  without  mainte- 
nance. Females  receive  from  20  to  40  cents  per  day,  average  33  cents, 
without  board.  Youths  of  both  sexes,  from  10  to  35  cents  per  day. 
Most  of  the  agricultural  laborers  own  their  own  small  piece  of  land, 
which  they  also  cultivate. 

Meelianics. — In  the  towns  and  settlements  many  of  the  ordinary  me- 
chanical pursuits  are  followed,  the  rates  of  wages  being  as  follows,  viz: 


Occupations. 


Bricklayers per  ilr> y. 

Masous do . . . 

Carpenters do... 

Baleen I's do . . . 

Blacksmiths do  . . 

Butchers do . . . 

Cabinet-makers do. .. 

Cij;ar- makers do. .. 

Coopers do  . . 

Drivers <lo. . . 

Printers per  week . 

Sail-nial<ers per  day . 

Stevedores do  .. 

Tailors do . . . 

Tinners  do. . . 

Painters do . . . 

AVajion-makers do. .. 

Plasteiers do  . . 

Shoemakers do. .. 

Seamstresses , . . .  do . . . 

Shell-workers : do. . . 

Stone-eiitters do... 

Upholsteieis do... 

Salt-rakers do . . . 

Spouge-packers do. .. 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    BRITISH    WEST    INDIES.         245 

TRADING. 

There  are  numerous  traders,  mostly  in  a  small  retail  way,  with  a  few 
wholesale  houses.  Hundreds  of  women  are  venders  of  confectioneries, 
nuts,  and  fruits,  hawkin.u-  them  about  the  streets  in  baskets  and  wooden 
trays,  in  the  settlements  and  towns,  earning-  a  livelihood  in  this  way. 
The  hours  for  employes  in  stores  and  shops  are  nine  or  ten  ]ier  day, 
most  of  the  places  closing  at  dark.  Very  few  females  are  emi)l()yed  in 
stores,  but  when  they  are  used  their  wages  are  the  same  as  those  paid 
to  nuiles,  viz:  IVom  $3  to  $3  per  week,  average  $3.75,  without  mainte- 
nance. 

Fishiuf/,  sponging,  and  ^crecl-'ing. — Probably  one  half  the  population  of 
the  Bahamas  is  engaged  in  these  three  industries;  but  no  rate  of  wages 
can  be  given  for  these  people  for  the  reason  that  the  entire  business  is 
(tarried  on  under  the  "  system  of  shares."  The  owners  of  the  vessels 
fit  them  for  the  voyage  ;  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  "  catch  -'  are  taken 
the  expenses,  and  the  balance  is  divided  by  shares  amongst  all  con- 
cerned. The  most  that  can  be  said  is  that,  taking'  one  voyage  with  an- 
other, these  laborers  make  a  comfortable  living,  though  they  seldom 
accuinuhite  proi)erty.  The  fish  caught  are  not  exported,  but,  fresh  and 
cured,  are  used  for  food  in  the  colony. 

Those  engaged  in  wrecking  occasionally' secure  a  large  reward  for 
salving-  some  valuable  ship  or  cargo  ;  but  these  prizes  are  not  so  frequent 
as  in  the  days  which  preceded  the  erection  of  ligfht-houses  and  the  in- 
troduction of  steam  vessels.  Besides,  the  wreckers  are  proverbially  ex- 
travagant fellows,  and  the  end  of  the  season  finds  them  no  better  off 
than  they  were  at  its  beginning. 

The  landing  of  the  sponges  furnishes  employment  to  many  other  peo- 
ple in  washing,  bleaching,  and  ciii)ping-  them,  and  in  packing-  them  for 
shipment.  There  are  a  dozen  sponge  yards  in  Nassau,  where  the  labor- 
ers employed  receive  wages  as  follows :  Packers,  from  75  cents  to  $1 
per  day — average  90  cents.  All  other  hands,  from  60  to  84  cents  per 
<lay — average  75  cents,  without  board. 

Salt  maling  and  woodevtting. — A  large  quantity  of  salt  is  made,  and 
much  dye  ami  cabinet  wood  is  cut  in  the  colony.  The  labor,  however, 
emi)loyed  in  these  industries  is  of  the  ordinary  kind,  muscle,  rather 
than  skill,  being  the  desideratum.  The  wages  earned  by  wood-cutters 
and  salt-rakers  are  from  40  to  50  cents  per  day — average,  say,  45  cents 
l)er  day,  without  board. 

Ship-huilding. — Tlie  shipbuilding  of  the  colony  is  confined  mostly  to 
the  making-  of  small  boats,  fishing-smacks,  and  si)onging  schooners, 
with  an  occasional  vessel  of  from  100  to  150  tons  burden.  The  largest 
vessel  ever  built  here,  and  she  was  exceptionally  large,  measures  233 
tons.  There  are  perhai)s  from  fifteen  to  twenty  small  ship-yards  in  the 
colony.  There  is  also  at  Nassau  a  marine  railway,  where  ships  less 
than,  say,  800  tons  can  be  repaired.  The  vessels  built  are  all  of  wood. 
The  day's  work  at  the  yards  and  at  the  railway  consists  of  nine  hours, 
and  the  wages  paid  (very  little  difference  being  made  between  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  workmen)  are  from  84.50  per  week  to  $7.50 — the  aver- 
age being  80.-5,  without  maintenaiu;e. 

Preserving  of  frnit. — There  are  three  or  four  establishments  in  the 
colony,  where  ripe  Iruit  is  put  up  in  cans — principally  pine-ai)ples,  of 
which  the  islands  produce  from  5,000,000  to  (),000,000  every  year.  The 
crop  is  partly  exported  and  i)artly  canned  here.  These  factories  give 
employment,  during-  May,  June,  and  July,  to  i)erhai)s  (JOO  persons,  men, 
women,  and  chiklren,  who  are  engaged  in  handling-,  paruig,  slicing,  put- 


246        LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    BRITISH    WEST    INDIES. 

tiug"  fruit  in  cans,  heatiug,  soklerinof,  and  packing  cans  in  cases.  At 
another  factory  the  frnit  is  "candied"  especially  for  confectioners'  use. 

The  wages  paid  employes  in  these  factories  are  as  follows :  Men, 
from  36  to  60  cents  i)er  day — average,  50  cents ;  women,  from  24 
to  50  cents — average,  30  cents;  youths,  from  10  to  12  cents  per  day; 
tinners,  by  the  job,  soldering,  earn  from  90  cents  to  Si. 50 — average,  |l 
per  day  ;  boys,  soldering  by  job,  average  25  cents  per  day. 

Seamen. — A  number  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  colony  are  engaged 
in  regular  trade  among  the  islands,  to  the  West  Indies,  and  to  the 
United  States,  giving  employment  to  several  hundred  persons.  The 
wages  iiaid  to  this  class  of  men  are  as  follows :  For  foreign  voyages : 
Masters,  $35  to  $50  per  month— average,  $45 ;  mates,  $24  to  $30~^per 
month — average,  $25;  cooks,  $17  to  $20 — average,  $18  per  month; 
seamen,  $13  to  $18  per  month — average,  $15.  For  interinsular  voy- 
ages: Masters,  $22  to  $28— average,  $20';  mates,  $14  to  16— average, 
$15  per  month;  cooks,  $10  to  $13  per  month — average,  $11 ;  seamen, 
$7  to  $11  per  month — average,  $8.50.  These  wages  are  for  sail  vessels, 
no  steam  vessels  belonging  to  the  colony.  Foreign  vessels  shipping 
crews  here  are  generally  obliged  to  i^ay  wages  from  30  to  40  per  cent, 
above  these  prices. 

Household  Hervants. — The  wages  paid  to  household  help  does  not  dif- 
fer much  in  town  or  country.  JEIouse  servants,  as  a  rule,  do  not  lodge 
with  their  employers.  Their  wages,  with  board,  are  as  follows  :  Cooks, 
from  $2.50  to  $4  per  month — average,  $3;  house  maids,  $2  to  $3.50 — 
average,  $2.50  per  month;  men-servants,  $3  to  $4 — average,  $3.25; 
butlers,  $5  to  $8 — average,  $6.50;  laundresses,  $5  to  $8 — average,  $6 
per  month ;  youths,  from  ten  to  fifteen  years  old,  $1  to  $1.50  per 
mouth — average,  $1;  grooms  and  coachmen,  average,  $5  a  month. 

Government  and  corporation  cmploijes. — There  are  no  incorporated  cities, 
towns  or  villages  in  the  Bahamas.  The  capital,  jSJassau,  containing 
12,000  inhabitants,  is  governed  directly  by  the  colojiial  authorities, 
without  the  intervention  or  assistance  of  any  municipal  officers  or  boards 
whatsoever ;  hence  there  are  no  wages  of  corporation  employes  to  be 
reported.  The  following  wages  are  paid  to  employes  in  Crovernment 
offices,  exclusive  of  heads  of  departments,  viz :  chief  clerks,  $725  per 
annum  ;  assistant  clerks,  $144  to  $360 — average,  $275 ;  tide  waiters, 
$384,  or  when  temporary  ones  are  employed,  at  75  cents  per  day  ;  over- 
seers of  prison,  $194;  turnkeys  of  prison,  $280;  overseers  of  roads, 
$600;  sergeants  of  police,  $388;  corporals  of  police,  $29  L;  policemen, 
$220  to  $250 — average,  $240.  The  fire  dej)artment  is  principally'  vol- 
unteer, under  chhrge  of  the  police.  Care  of  the  streets  and  public  works 
and  property  and  general  improvements  are  attended  to  by  overseers 
with  convict  labor;  and  if  extra  help  is  needed  laborers  are  employed 
at  about  50  cents  per  day,  and  mechanics  at  their  customary  wages,  as 
already  reported. 

THE    COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  food  of  the  poorer  classes  of  working  people  is  simple  and  by  no 
means  expensive.  It  consists  largely  of  corn-bread,  hominy,  or  as  it  is 
properly  called  "grits,"  rice,  conclis,  fish,  j'ams,  and  fruits.  The  corn 
meal,  rice,  and  hominy  are  imported,  yams  and  fruits  grow  luxuriantly 
everywhere,  and  the  sea  supplies  the  fish  and  couchs.  Corn-meal  costs 
4  cents  i)er  quart ;  rice,  8  cents  ])er  quart ;  grits,  6  cents  per  quart.  For 
3  or  6  cents  a  man  can  buy  all  the  fruit  he  can  eat  at  one  time,  and  for 
a  few  pennies  more  fish  and  yams  enough  for  an  ordinary  family.   The 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    BRITISH    WEST    INDIES. 


247 


better  class  of  laborers  often  add  to  tlie  foregoing-  list ;  but  grits,  fish, 
and  fruits  are  found  ui>on  the  tables  of  rieh  and  poor  alike.  Articles  of 
quite  common  consumption  cost  at  retail  as  follows : 


Articles. 


riour: 

Wheat per  pound.. 

Cum per  quai  t. . 

Butter per  iioimil.. 

Kice per  quart!. 

Coflfee per  pound. . 

Tea do 

Sugar : 

Brown do. . . . 

Kefiued do 

Grits per  quart.. 

Bacon per  pound.. 


i 

Cost.      l| 

il 
Cents. 

,      3  to  6 

* 

0 

■     30 

50 

6 

8 

1     18 

24 

1     40 

100 

7 

10  i 

:   15 

20  11 

i     c 

7 

" 

™ii 

Articles. 


Salt  pork per  pound. . 

Salt  fish. do.... 

Fresh  tish do 

Bread do 

Cheese do 

Fresh  meat .'do 

Milk i>cr  quart.. 

Chirkens per  pair.. 

Ej;;is  per  dozen . . 

Caudles per  pound.. 

Kerosene  oil i)er  quart.. 

Lard per  pound.. 


Cost. 


Cents. 
15  to  20 


In  the  matter  of  clothing  it  is  very  evident  that  much  more  money 
is  sjH^nt  by  many  of  the  poorer  classes  than  there  is  any  necessity  for. 
A  desire  to  dress  well  and  to  wear  personal  adornments  is  prevalent 
among  these  people.  In  a  climate  where  the  thermometer  never  falls  to 
50°,  and  where  it  seldom  drops  to  even  G0<^,  but  little  clothing  is  required 
to  i)rotect  from  the  cold,  and  yet  competent  Judges  assert  that  not  less 
than  75  per  cent,  of  the  earnings  of  a  majority  of  the  laboring  people 
are  spent  for  wearing  ai)i)arel  and  adornments.  The  working  clothes 
of  the  poor  are  largely  of  cottons,  prints,  or  calicoes,  and  Jeans  or  drills, 
straw  or  palmetto  hats.  Many  wear  no  shoes  at  all.  Good  cottons  can 
be  bought  for  9  cents  per  yard;  prints  for  8  cents;  Jeans  and  drills  for 
20  cents;  lawns  for  25  cents;  shoes  for  $1.25  to  81.50  per  pair,  and  other 
goods  in  ])ro])ortion.  But  these  qualities  do  not  suit  for  Sundays,  holi- 
days, and  iestive  occasions,  when  many  really  expensive  articles  are 
worn,  l^right  colors  and  showy  goods  are  the  favorites  regardless  of 
cost,  and  the  appearance  presented  by  an  assemblage  of  the  laboring 
classes  of  the  Bahamas,  u])on  some  public  occasion,  in  the  matter  of 
dress,  would  be  suggestive  of  anything  but  poverty  or  hard  lines  in 
earning  a  livelihood.  With  the  same  economy  in  clothing  that  their 
fellows  exercise  in  America  or  in  England,  the  laboring  classes  here 
could  easily  put  by  something  in  store  for  a  rainy  day. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   WORKING  PEOPLE. 


The  working  classes  are  in  a  reasonably  comfortable  condition,  that 
is,  there  is  a  fair  amount  of  work  to  be  done  at  fair  i)rices,  so  that  while 
there  is  not  much  accumulation  of  proi)erty  amongst  them,  there  is  on 
the  other  hand  comparatively  little  of  actual  want  or  suffering.  Thrifty 
ones  generally  own  their  own  plot  of  land  and  cabin,  whilst  comfortable 
houses  can  be  rented  at  from  $2  to  $3  per  month.  Their  houses  are 
either  of  stone  or  wood,  with  wooden  or  tiiatched  roof,  containing  from 
one  to  four  rooms,  mostly  one  story  in  height,  with  many  oi)enings,  as 
is  needed  in  ,i  tropical  climate.  No  fuel  is  required  excej)t  a  little  wood 
for  cooking  purposes.  These  cabins  or  dwellings  are  generally  sur- 
rounded by  fruit  trees,  which  give  shade  and  contribute  to  the  support 
of  tiie  family. 

It  is  very  customary  for  the  women  to  take  in  washing  or  sewing  to 
hel])  the  husband  when  it  can  be  procured.  The  laborers  begin  theii 
daily  work  at  0  o'clock  in  the  morning,  stopping  from  8  to  9  for  break- 


248       LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    BRITISH    WEST    INDIES. 

fast,  aucl  continue  from  9  till  5  p.  m.,  with  an  lionr's  intermission  at 
noon  for  a  meal.  Tliey  liave' their  sn])per  about  6  o'clock.  I  have  made 
reference  to  their  food,  and  will  only  add  that  fresh  meat,  and  indeed 
any  kind  of  meat,  is  seklom  used  by  the  i)oorer  classes. 

There  is  considerable  intemperance  among  the  poorer  classes,  quan- 
tities of  Holland  gin  being  drunk,  and  much  Jamaica  rum,  the  latter 
being  sold  very  cheai)ly.  There  are,  on  the  other  hand,  a  number  of 
temperance  societies  which  are  exercising  a  good  reformatory  influence 
upon  the  drinking  classes. 

MISCELLANEOUS  INFOEMATION. 

There  has  been  no  change  for  many  years  in  the  rate  of  wages  paid 
in  the  colony,  and  the  conditions  which  suriouud  the  labor  question 
here  continue  the  same  from  year  fo  year. 

There  are  no  organizations  of  either  ca])ital  or  labor,  and  strikes  may 
be  said  to  be  unknown  in  the  islands,  a  kind  and  friendly  feeling  almost 
always  iirevailing  between  employer  and  employe,  which  has  a  benefi- 
cial effect  upon  the  prosperity  of  the  community. 

Co-operative  societies  are  not  known.  The  working  people  are  paid 
each  day  or  each  week  in  British  gold  and  silver,  and  are  at  perfect 
liberty  to  make  all  i)nrcbases  wherever  they  may  choose,  employers  im- 
posing no  conditions  in  this  regard. 

PoUtical  rights. — The  political  rights  possessed  by  the  workingmen  are 
few.  The  colony  is  a  der)endency  of  Great  Britain,  and  officials  are  not 
elected  by  the  people.  Once  in  seven  years  a  lower  house  of  assembly  is 
elected  by  popular  vote,  every  male  citizen  over  twenty-one  who  owns 
any  real  estate,  kee])s  a  house,  or  pays  taxes,  being  a  voter.  As,  how- 
ever, the  ui)per  house  is  appointed  by  the  Imperial  Government,  and 
as  the  governor,  also,  is  a  crown  official,  and  possesses  an  absolute  veto 
power,  the  authority  of  the  popular  house  is  much  curtailed.  And  even 
in  the  lower  house,  owing  to  crown  and  official  influences,  an  independent 
majority  is  seldom  obtained  at  an  election.  This  septennial  election  is 
the  only  opportunity  the  workingman  has  to  exercise  any  political  in- 
fluence. It  is  but  just  to  say,  however,  that  the  crown  and  colonial 
authorities  have  usually  a  most  kindly  feeling  towards  the  laboring 
classes,  and  that  the  tendency  of  legislation  is  in  the  direction  of  the 
improvement  and  welfare  of  these  peo])le. 

Taxation. — The  proportion  of  taxation  borne  by  the  laboring  classes  is 
not  easily  determined.  There  is  very  little  of  direct  or  local  taxation  in 
the  colony;  indeed,  nothing  in  the  way  of  municipal  rates,  or  of  levies 
upon  assessed  valuations  of  real  or  personal  property.  Probably  seven- 
eighths  of  the  entire  revenue  of  the  colony  arises  from  duties  on  imports 
and  from  licenses.  The  laboring  classes,  therefoi  e,  pay  taxes  in  ])ropor- 
tion  to  the  quantity  of  imports  thej' consume,  which,  being  an  unknown 
quantitj^  prevents  me  from  giving  a  satisfactory  answer  upon  this 
point.  There  is  no  discrimination  against  them  in  the  matter  of  taxes. 
Duties  on  imports  are  about  20  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 

Fjmigration. — There  is  very  little  emigration  fiom  the  colony.  The 
working  classes  are  generally  contented  with  their  condition.  The  cli- 
mate is  semi-trojjical;  they  are  certain  of  a  living  here;  but  little  toil 
is  necessary  to  earn  a  livelihood ;  they  are  not  ambitious  to  improve 
their  condition,  but  as  a  rule  are  content  to  let  well  enough  alone;  and 
are  attached  to  their  homes  with  the  indolent,  free  from -care  life  of  these 
quiet  islands,  which  are  not  inaptly  termed  the  "negroes'  i)aradise." 

Fopulation. — The  population  of  the  entire  group  of  the  Bahamas  will 
not  exceed  45,000  souls,  and  of  these  it  is  safe  to  assert  that  not  to  exceed 


LABOR    IN    THE    WI-:ST    INDIES:    BRITISH    WEST    INDIES.         249 

5,000  or  0,000  arc  Avhitos,  tlic  rest  bein^-  made  up  of  all  shades  of  color, 
from  the  ])ure  octoroon  to  the  coal-black  native  African  set  free  from 
slave  shi]>s  captured  in  the  adjacent  waters  by  British  cruisers.  Slavery 
was  abolished  in  these  islands  in  1838.  The  i)hysical  condition  of  the 
whites  and  blacks  is  good ;  but  the  mixed  race  seem  deficient  in  good 
constitutions,  yielding  easily  to  the  attacks  of  disease.  The  moral  condi- 
tion of  the  better  class  of  working  i)eople  is  not  different  from  that  which 
obtains  among  such  ])eoi)le  in  the  world  generally ;  but  among  the  lower 
orders  vice  and  immorality  abound  to  a  shocking  extent.  Population 
increases  slowly,  about  1  percent,  per  annum  being  the  rate  during  the 
past  decade. 

Wo))ie7i  employes. — Women  are  em]iloyed  in  agricultural  work,  in  the 
l)reserving  of  iruit,  and  in  household  services  generally,  but  I  do  not 
know  that  this  fact  has  any  api)reciable  efl'ect  upon  the  wages  of  men 
or  on  social  and  industrial  conditions.  Their  wages,  as  appears  else- 
where, are  lower  than  those  paid  to  males.  There  are  no  female  artists, 
chemists,  journalists,  inventors,  bankers,  lecturers,  or  public  speakers. 
There  are  perhaps  twenty  clerks,  twenty-tive  teachers  of  schools  and  in 
music,  six  boarding-house  keepers,  and  one  hundred  workers  in  shell 
manufacture.  Outside  of  the  services  mentioned  in  this  paragraph  there 
is  little  employment  for  women  in  this  colony.  I  do  not  know  that  any 
special  consideration  is  given  byem])loyers  to  the  moral  or  physical  well- 
being  of  their  employes;  in  fact,  I  think  they  are  quite  indifferent  to  the 
same.  And  as  their  em})loyments  are  not  dangerous  no  i)rovisions  are 
made  for  the  safety  of  employes  or  for  their  care  in  case  of  accidents. 

Education. — The  majority  of  the  laboring  classes  are  ignorant,  but 
among  the  better  classes  of  the  working  people  there  is  considerable 
intelligence.  There  are  public  schools  throughout  the  colony,  supple- 
mented by  many  schools  under  the  ausjjiccs  of  the  Church  of  England. 
Tliere  are  also  in  existence  strict  comi)ulsory  education  laws,  which  are 
fairly  well  enforced,  so  that  many  children  are  receiving  a  common- 
sc1k)o1  education  in  tliis  colony,  a  condition  of  affairs  that  cannot  but 
produce  beneficial  results  in  the  near  future. 

Labor  organizations. — There  are  in  the  colony,  among  the  working 
people,  a  number  of  organizations  called  "  friendly  "  and  "burial"  socie- 
ties, the  object  of  which  is  to  encourage  habits  of  industry,  and  economy 
among  the  members,  and  to  provide  relief  in  case  of  illness  or  to  secure 
l)ro[)er  burial  at  time  of  death.  These  societies  are  prudently  managed 
and  are  largely  united  with  by  the  laboring  classes,  and  are  unques- 
tionably exerting  a  wholesome  and  desirable  indaence  amongst  the 
people  for  whose  benefit  they  were  created. 

CONCLUSION. 

In  conclusion  I  would  say  that  labor  in  this  colony  is  in  such  a  primi- 
tive condition  (very  little  of  what  can  properly-  be  termed  "skilled" 
labor  existing,  and  scarcely  any  that  finds  em[)loyment  iu  the  operating 
of  machinery  or  of  any  complicated  mechanical  ap[)liances)  that  it  has 
been  difhcult  to  treat  the  subject  in  a  way  that  would  enable  the  Depart- 
ment to  institute  a  satisfactory  comparison  between  our  rude  forms  and 
the  advanced  and  highly-developed  condition  in  which  labor  exists  in  the 
United  States.  1  have,  however,  done  the  best  I  could  in  the  i»remises 
and  trust  the  report,  which  embraces  ail  my  agencies  and  the  entire 
Biilr.imas.  will  be  acceptable  to  tli<>  Department. 

THOS.  J.  McLAIN,  Jr., 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Nassav,  New  Providence,  liaJiamas,  May  7,  1884. 


2o0       LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    BRITISH    WEST    INDIES. 

TURK'S  ISLAND.      * 

BEFORI  BY  COySJJL  SAWTEIi. 

Jn  response  to  Department  circular  under  date  of  Febrnar}'  15,  1 
have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  brief  statement  in  regard  to  labor 
on  this  island  and  the  dependency  thereof. 

There  are  but  few  daily  laborers,  and  these  are  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  salt  in  some  of  its  branches,  or  in  the  manufacture  or  gather- 
ing of  guano  at  two  points. 

There  are  but  few  mechanics  and  these  of  the  most  ordinary  kind. 
These  command  $1.25  per  day,  supposed  to  work  ten  hours  for  the  day. 

Common  laborers  at  the  salt  business  receive  75  cents  per  day  of  ten 
hours.  The  local  authorities  regulate  the  time  when  to  commence  work 
and  when  to  quit. 

The  men  are  supposed  to  commence  work  at  6  o'clock  a.  m.;  they  work 
until  10  o'clock  w^hen  they  have  an  hour  for  breakfast.  At  11  they 
commence  work,  and  some  crews  quit  for  the  day  at  2  o'clock ;  these 
receive  50  cents  for  the  day,  while  those  who  continue  until  5  o'clock  re- 
ceive 75  cents. 

^  The  Government  interferes  for  the  laborers  and  says  the  men  shall 
be  paid  weekly  and  in  cash,  but  as  many  of  them  have  to  anticipate 
their  wages,  when  Saturday  night  comes  they  have  taken  up  a  good 
share  of  the  week's  wages  at  the  shop,  as  most  of  the  manufacturers  keep 
a  supply  shop. 

The  cost  of  living  is  what  provisions  cost  in  New  York,  freight,  the 
local  tax  here,  and  the  profit  of  the  dealer  added. 

Good  feeling  exists  between  the  employers  and  the  employed.  The 
workmen  are  mostly  black  or  colored.  They  are,  as  a  general  rule,  in- 
dustrious and  frugal. 

N.  K.  SAWYER, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

TurWs  Island,  Augvst  20,  1884. 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES. 


251 


SPANISH  WEST  INDIES. 
CUBA-. 

CIENFUEGOS. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  PIEROK. 

Referring-  to  your  circular  letter  of  Febrnnry  last,  I  beg^  to  say  that 
almost  all  the  unskilled  labor  of  this  consular  district,  as  well  as  a  very 
considerable  i)roportion  of  the  skilled  labor,  iseniidoyedou  sugar  planta- 
tions in  cultivating  sugar  cane  and  converting  the  same  into  sugar  and 
molasses. 

WAGES  ON   SUaAR  PLANTATIONS. 

The  following  table  will  show  the  monthly  cost  and  arrangement  of 
labor  upon  a  sugar  plantation  of  1,500  acres,  well  supplied  with  modern 
machinery,  in  full  operation  during  the  late  grinding  season  and  during 
the  present  dull  season: 

LATE  GRINDING  SEASON. 


Occupations. 


Atlininistrator's  services    

Cult  ill  •>  cane 

Lilting  cane 

Dii villi;  <-ai8  and  wajrons     

LeadiiifT  stock-catlle  (boys)  

Layini:  poi  table  railroad 

Attending  furnaces 

Atteiidin;:  buileis 

Cai ling  t lie  iiu-srass 

Dryiui:  the  nieyass  (women) 

Attendinf;  i-n<riues 

Atti-ndiuj;  mills 

Caij)i*utciiii<; 

Blaiksuii  tiling 

llanliiig  '■  coiiollo  " 

Mayordomo's  si  rvices 

Work  at  cane  conductor 

Work  at  niegass  conductor 

Mayoral's  t!or\nces 

Services  of  stablemen 

Coopering  * 

AttendiKg  to  working  cattle  t 

Atteiidinir  dam  and  water  wheel 

Attending  viicuum  ])an  and  tripple  eflfect 

Attending  centrifugals  

Atteuiliug  defecation 

Mixing  su'zar 

Wink  at  tlie  packing-house 

Distributing  juice  in  kettles  

Washing  tanks 

Weighing  cano 

Watclinian's  services 

Diini))iug  ashes  

Carrying  water  for  hands  (boys) 


Number 

Hours 

of  em- 

of actual 

ployes. 

work. 

1 

12 

50 

11 

30 

U 

r2 

11 

16 

11 

10 

11 

25 

8 

2 

12 

10 

10 

18 

10 

5 

12 

12 

13 

4 

10 

1 

10 

2 

6 

1 

12 

12 

12 

6 

12 

1 

12 

2 

8 

5 

9 

5 

12 

2 

12 

5 

12 

4 

14 

4 

13 

4 

14 

3 

13 

1 

10 

2 

9 

1 

14 

1 

10 

o 

8 

5 

12 

Monthly 
wages  iu 
addition 
to  food. 


$100  00 
1,  0.=iO  00 
630  00 
252  00 
168  00 
210  00 
750  00 

44  00 
220  00 
250  00 
206  00 
168  00 
115  00 

45  00 
34  00 
34  00 

268  00 

102  00 

34  oO 

30  00 

225  00 

64  00 

40  00 

334  Oo 

100  00 

88  00 

112  00 

72  00 

28  00 

38  (10 

25  00 

24  00 

36  00 

53  00 


PRESENT  DULL  SEASON. 


Cultivating  canej 

Attending  stock  and  miscellaneous  woi-k  : 

Carrying  water  for  liands  (boys)  

For  services  of  a<lministrator 

For  services  of  mayordoino 

For  services  of  engineer 

Assistiint  to  enjjiueer 

Coopering 

For  services  of  mayoral 


1.50 

13 

1,500  00 

5 

13 

53  00 

5 

13 

25  00 

1 

12 

100  00 

1 

12 

17  00 

1 

10 

68  00 

1 

10 

12  00 

,f 

9 

225  00 

1 

13 

25  00 

*  The  coopers  have  an  organization,  whereby  they  each  secure  at  least  $45. 
f  Knur  bovs  and  one  man. 

JTliis  will  be  sufficient  force  to  clean  the  cane  and 'do  a  reasonable  amount  of  replanting  (but  nok 
primitive  planting)  with  the  hoe  exclusively.    On  new  wood-land  soil  the  plow  is  not  used. 


252       LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES. 

The  foregoinr»:  tables  are  on  the  most  economical  basis,  and  an  up- 
ward margin  of  as  much  as  25  per  cent,  should  be  allowed  in  order  to 
include  the  higher  prices,  and  even  this  margin  will  not  include  the 
highest  prices  paid  on  some  i^lantations. 

CONDITION  OF  AGRICULTURAL  LABOR. 

The  agricultural  labor  of  this  district  is  in  a  serious  state  of  derange- 
ment and  uncertainty.  It  is  surrounded  with  a  variety  of  complica- 
tions, more  or  less  varying,  in  each  neighborhood.  The  various  causes 
existing  here  calculated  to  reduce  the  price  of  labor  would  in  the  United 
States  unquestionably  reduce  labor  to  a  state  of  desperation.  But  for 
reasons  hereinafter  given  the  price  of  agricultural  labor  this  summer, 
on  an  average,  in  the  Cienfuegos  jurisdiction,  is  reduced  only  about 
30  or  35  per  cent,  of  what  it  was  lasf;  summer,  and  I  am  of  the  opinion 
that  the  unemployed  labor  of  this  consular  district  will  never  manifest 
itself  in  the  way  of  bread  riots.  Whatever  turbulence  it  may  manifest 
will  be  the  outgrowth  of  over-leisure  aggravated  more  by  other  causes 
than  by  an  insufficiency  of  food.     My  reasons  will  appear  further  on. 

The  causes  which  tend  to  cheapen  the  agricultural  labor  of  the  dis- 
trict are: 

First.  A  serious  degree  of  ignorance  and  want  of  concert  and  organi- 
zation among  the  laborers. 

Second.  The  low  price  of  sugar. 

Third.  The  fact  that  many  [dantations  have  suspended  or  lessened 
their  labor  operations  from  inability  to  obtain  the  necessary  capital. 

It  is  estimated  tiiat  three-fourths  of  the  plantations  of  the  Cienfuegos 
jurisdiction  have  reduced  the  number  of  their  laborers  since  a  year  ago, 
some  of  them  to  such  an  extent  as  to  now  permit  the  cane  to  grow  up 
without  cultivating  it,  and  it  is  believed  that  unless  the  price  of  sugar 
increases  that  quite  a  number  of  planters  will  not  even  attempt  to  grind 
their  cane  the  coniing  season. 

It  is  also  understood  here  (but  I  am  unable  to  verify  the  rumor)  that 
one  or  two  planters  in  the  island  have  freed  their  slaves,  being  unable 
to  successfully  employ  them,  and  also  that  thirty  sugar-mills  have  been 
sent  from  the  island  to  Mexico. 

Fourth.  The  conversion  of  Spanish  soldiers  into  agricultural  laborers. 
Soldiers  are  allowed  to  work  for  wages  on  iilautations  when  they  so 
desire. 

Fifth.  An  increase  in  the  number  of  native  white  laborers.  While 
negro  slavery  was  in  full  force  on  the  island,  manual  labor  of  every 
kind  was  recoiled  from  more  than  it  ever  was  in  our  Southern  States. 
The  commanding  position  of  Cuban  sugar  surrounded  the  wealthier 
classes  with  a  flood  of  extravagance,  on  which  the  thriftless  whites 
lived  in  comparative  idleness.  But  now  Cuban  sugar  has  lost  its  power, 
wealth  is  crumbling  into  bankruptcy,  the  price  of  provisions  has  under- 
gone little  or  no  reduction,  and  the  poor  whites,  like  the  blacks,  are 
driven  to  the  choice  of  working  for  meat  and  bread  or  living  on  less 
costly  food.  As  a  rule,  however,  this  class  of  labor  is  not  as  constant 
as  the  free  negro  labor.  It  is  estimated  that  25  ])er  cent,  of  the  native 
white  agricultural  lal)orers  under  emi)loyment  at  this  season  of  the 
year  remain  at  work  not  more  than  two  months  at  a-  time,  while  not 
more  than  8  per  cent,  of  the  free  negro  laborers  actually  employed  iluc- 
tuate  to  this  extent. 

Sixth.  An  increased  immigration  of  laboring  people  within  the  last 
year  or  two.     I  am,  however,  unable  to  estimate  this  increase. 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES.       253 

Turning  now  to  tliecansns  wbicli  tcMid  to  decrease  the. supply  and  en- 
hance tlie  value  of  aj;rlcultural  labor,  I  beg  to  say  that  in  Cuba,  as  iu 
tlie  United  States,  the  lu'gro  women  on  being  freed  aredisjiosed  to  with- 
draw from  field  labor  and  devote  themselves  to  household  woilc.  Fol- 
lowing the  results  of  emancipation,  in  this  direction,  I  cannot  do  better 
than  to  (piote  from  my  report  of  last  August  on  the  credit  system  of  the 
district,  with  the  remark  that  subsecjuent  developments  tend  to  sus- 
tain what  was  therein  predicted;  although  the  serious  decline  iu  the 
price  of  sugar  has  made  labor  of  less  importance  in  agriculture  than  1 
then  anticii)ated :  "But  the  labor  (piestion  is  the  great  problem  for 
the  future.  Labor  is  now  passing  from  slavery  to  freedom,  and  the 
future  results  of  the  change  are  wrapped  in  fear  and  doubt.  We  cannot 
with  full  saiety  estimate  the  future  of  the  negro  population  here  by  the 
commendable  bearing  of  the  negro  ])0])ulation  of  our  Southern  States 
under  the  license  of  freedom.  There  they  ceased  to  cultivate  the  land 
at  the  commaud  of  the  la.ndlord  only  to  cultivate  it  at  the  comnmnd  of 
their  own  necessities.  Here  not  so.  The  nutritious  fruits  and  herbs 
which  grow  in  abundance  with  little  or  no  cultivation,  the  fishes  of  the 
surrounding  sea  and  inland  streams,  the  warm  climate  and  ample  shelter 
of  the  bark  and  leaf  of  the  palm  tree,  all  combine  to  relieve  them  from 
such  necessities.  There,  too,  the  freedmen  wereconstrained  by  their  very 
humanities  to  be  worthy  citizens  of  the  Rei)ublic  when  the  novelty  of 
the  change  had  passed  and  they  realized  themselves  clothed  with  legal 
and  ]>olitical  equality,  their  children  being  educated  and  the  i)athways 
to  honorable  distiriction  opened  before  them;  their  own  manhood  rec- 
ognized and  their  occupation  respected,  they  wereconstrained  to  place 
confidence  in  the  future,  and  to  be  animated  to  industry  and  laudable 
ambition.  Here  such  bids  fair  not  to  be  the  case.  Freedom  to  the 
Cuban  negro,  while  a  step  in  the  right  direction,  will  hold  out  no  such 
incentive  to  personal  wealth  and  patriotism.  The  froednum  will  remain 
an  insignificant  factor  in  the  political  world;  motives  to  subserve 
the  i)ublic  good  of  his  i)rogeny  will  not  be  inspired  by  the  situation  ; 
and  without  such  motives  and  without  the  necessity  of  gaining  his  live- 
lihood by  labor  he  will  be  apt  to  become  a  very  unreliable  and  iuditi'er- 
eut  tiller  of  the  soil." 

THE   COLONIAL   SYSTEM. 

Within  the  last  few  years  what  is  called  here  the  "colonial"  system 
has  been  inaugurated  and  meets  with  considerable  favor.  This  consists 
in  farming  out  land  for  cultivation  or  iu  making  such  arrangements 
with  small  land  owners  as  to  enable  them  to  cultivate  their  land  iu  su- 
gar cane.  These  conditions  somewhat  vary.  They  are,  however,  in  the 
main,  about  as  follows :  The  ])lanter  allows  a  certain  (piantity  of  land  to 
the  "colono,"  who  is  to  i)ay  for  it  at  $1  ])er  acre,  and  duly  cultivate  it 
in  sugar  (;aue,  and  cut  and  deliver  the  cane  at  the  "central  "place  where 
the  ])lanter  grinds  it.  The  planter  on  the  other  hand  i)ays  to  the  "co- 
lono "  ^'MiO  for  each  2,;'3()()  pounds  of  canes  so  delivereil ;  and  the  i)lanter 
also  fuinishes  sutiicient  cane  for  the  first  two  plantings,  and  sufficient 
live  stock  aiul  utensils. 

HOW   THE   LABORERS  LIVE. 

The  daily  habits  and  mode  of  life  of  the  working  classes  in  the  coun- 
try are  in  no  wise  elevated.  jS^early,  if  not  quite  all,  live  in  thatched 
houses  without  fiooring  ;  they  look  forward  to  the  necessities  of  old  ago 
with  little  concern,  and  are  much  more  content  to  live  from  "  hand  to 
mouth"  than  any  class  of  laborers  in  the  United  States. 


254       LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES. 

During-  the  busy  or  crop  season  (about  five  months)  they  work  during 
the  entire  Sunday  on  some  estates  and  part  of  the  Sunday  on  all  of  them. 
They  are,  however,  fed  as  well  or  better  than  the  corres])ondin,a;"  class 
of  laborers  in  our  Southern  States,  who,  in  Georgia  at  least,  formerly 
received  2i  pounds  of  bacon  (uncooked)  and  a  peck  of  meal  per  week, 
together  with  such  vegetables  as  they  themselves  might  raise  around 
their  cabins.  Here  their  daily  rations  are  nsually  taken  in  sufficient 
quantities  from  the  following  list:  jerked  beef,  sweet  potatoes,  rice, 
bread,  beans,  plantain,  pork,  aguardiente,  codfish,  olive  oil,  lard,  fiesli 
beef,  and  salt  beef;  and  they  usually  get  a  daily  allowance  of  coffee  and 
sugar.  The  skilled  laborers  (machinist,  carpenters,  &c.)  are  allowed  to 
eat  at  a  table  and  the  food  of  the  unskilled  laborers  usually  given  to 
them  on  ])lates.  The  owner  of  one  of  the  largest  plantations  in  the 
island,  which  during  the  crop  season  employs  about  five  hundred  per- 
sons, tells  me  that  by  cooking  for  them,  which  he  does  by  steam,  he  is 
enabled  to  feed  the  skilled  laborers  at  33  cents  a  day,  the  unskilled  white 
laborers  at  22  cents  a  day,  and  to  feed  the  unskilled  negro  laborers  at 
16  cents  a  day.  A  distinction  is  usually  though  not  always  drawn  be- 
tween white  and  negro  laborers  of  the  same  class. 

SLAVE   LABOR. 

The  slaves  here  are  allowed  by  law  $3  [per  month  ?]  (equal  to  $2,796 
in  United  States  money),  and  it  has  long  been  customary  to  allow  plan- 
tation slaves  to  have  a  piece  of  land  on  which  to  cultivate  vegetables, 
raise  poultry,  and  also  raise  one  or  two  pigs.  This  custom,  it  is  said, 
was  intended  to  create  an  inducement  for  the  slave  not  to  run  away 
from  the  plantation.  It  is  noticed  here,  as  it  was  in  the  United  States, 
that  the  negroes  on  becoming  free  usually  leave  the  plantation  on  which 
the}'  have  been  held  as  slaves,  but  show  a  disposition  to  return  to  it 
after  an  absence  of  a  year  or  two. 

WAGES  IN   THE   CITY   OF   CIENFUEGOS. 

The  following  table  will  give  an  approximate  idea  of  the  price  of  labor 
in  the  city  of  Cienfuegos,  a  i)lace  of  about  21,000  inhabitants.  1  beg  to 
state,  however,  in  advance  that  the  prices  are  unsetlled,  emidoyment 
uncertain  and  irregular,  and  the  sources  of  information  on  the  subject 
more  or  less  unsatisfactory.  I  have  attempted  to  show  the  monthly 
compensation  each  occupation  gives,  when  em])loyment  is  obtained, 
though  in  some  cases  payment  is  made  according  to  the  work  per- 
formed, and  in  other  cases  by  the  day.  All  classes  of  laborers  in  the 
city  usually  work  from  6  to  5,  sto])])ing  one  hour  for  breakfast,  and 
most  of  them  work  an  hour  less  on  Saturday.  Shops  and  stores  are 
kept  open  and  retail  business  transacted  on  Sunday,  but  artisans  are 
not  required  to  work  on  Sunday  when  emi)loyed  by  the  month.  When 
l)aid  by  the  day  twenty-six  days  are  accounted  a  month.  Prices  are 
so  irregular  that  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  approximate  an  average. 
Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  su])ply  of  the  city  labor  is  greatly  in  excess 
of  the  demand,  it  would  seeui  not  unreasonable  to  assume  that  the 
average  wages  will  not  exceed  10  per  cent,  over  the  lowest  throughout 
the  table. 

The  tables  of  this  report  and  all  amounts  of  money  mentioned  are  in 
Spanish  coin ;  a  dollar  in  Spanish  is  equal  to  $0,932  in  United  States 
coin. 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES. 
Wages  paid  per  month. 


255 


Occupations. 


Brick-layers 

Hotl  carriers 

Stone-uiasous 

Plasterers 

Phiinbei  8 

OarpeiittTs 

Hon  sill  carpenters 

Gas-litters 

Baki'rs 

Blacksmiths 

Strik.  rs 

l)Oi)k-l>iu(lers 

Brick-uiakers 

Butchers 

Caliinet-niakers 

Confectioners 

Ci^rar-niakors 

Coopeis 

Draynion  and  toauisters. 

Cab  and  carriage 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

HoiS'Shoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers  and  porters  ... 
Printers 


Lowest. 


$38  00 
21  00 
65  00 
C5  00 
52  00 
65  00 
39  00 

25  00 
ao  00 
52  00 

26  00 
25  00 
30  00 
17  00 
78  00 
60  00 
37  00 
45  00 
25  00 
30  00 
17  00 
34  00 

27  00 
50  00 
21  00 
30  00 


Highest. 


$52  00 
30  00 
78  00 
78  00 
65  00 
78  00 
52  00 
51  CO 
60  00 
65  00 
32  00 
34  00 
34  00 
25  00 
91  00 
80  00 
00  00 
60  00 
34  00 
37  00 
34  00 
62  00 
40  00 
80  00 
34  00 
60  00 


Occnpations. 


Teachers,  public  school. . . . 
Saddlers  and  harness-niak- 

eis 

Sail-makers 

Stevedores  

Tanners 

Tadors ... 

Tin.tniiths 

Shoemakers 

Barbel's   

Household  servants,  with 
board  : 

Cooks 

Chambermaids 

Dress-makers 

Kailroad  employes : 

Road-masters 

Switchmen 

Breakmen 

Firemen 

Blacksmiths 

Boiler-makers 

Cai-penters 

Brick.layers 

Enjiiueers 


Lowest. 


$50  00 
30  00 

60  00 
52  00 
25  00 
25  00 
32  00 
34  00 
30  00 


10  00 
4  00 
12  00 

40  00 

30  00 

30  00 

30  00 

6.1  00 

05  00 

32  00 

45  00 

120  00 


Highest. 


$100  00 
50  00 

105  00 
104  00 
40  00 
4.-)  00 
49  00 
55  00 
54  00 


25  00 

9  00 

15  00 

102  00 
30  00 
30  00 
30  00 
187  00 
130  60 
154  00 
£8  00 
130  00 


COST   OF   LIVING   TO   CITY  LABORERS. 


The  laborers  of  Cienfuegos  are  Diore  intelligent  than  those  of  the 
country,  and  coumiaiid  better  wages,  though  the  general  depression  of 
business  has  thrown  a  large  number  of  them  out  of  employment.  Living, 
of  course,  is  more  exi^ensive  than  in  the  country,  and  is  probably  more 
expensive  in  this  particular  city  than  any  other  of  its  size  on  the  island. 
Plantains  (which,  according  to  my  liking,  are  a  better  substitute  for 
meal  and  bread  than  either  sweet  or  liish  potatoes)  are  as  a  rule  brought 
here  fiom  other  localities,  and  so  are  yams  (another  substantial  food  of 
the  island),  in  considerable  quantities,  in  order  to  supply  this  market. 

The  usual  cost  of  living  per  month  in  this  city  of  a  family  consisting  of 
husband  (under  employment  at  $3.50  per  day),  wife,  and  three  children 
under  twelve  years  of  age,  may  be  estimated  as  follows: 

Wages ;j!91  00 

House  reut |17  00 

Provi-ious 30  00 

Clothing 11  no 

Education  (two  children) 8  50 

Washiug,  fuel,  lights,  aud  other  necessaries 16  00 

83  00 

Leaving  for  cigars  and  diversions  only 8  00 

If,  however,  the  husband  should  lose  his  employment,  aud  he  should 
wish  to  curtail  his  expenses  while  looking  for  work,  and  at  the  same 
time  keep  up  appearances,  he  could  maintain  his  family  without  much 
discomfort  on  $40,  and,  if  the  worst  should  come,  he  could  manage  to 
maintain  them  all  with  wholesome  food  and  dry  shelter,  but  without 
coflee,  bread,  and  meat,  on  from  $10  to  $15  per  month. 

FEMALE  LABOR. 

Female  labor  is  very  much  more  restricted  than  in  the  United  States. 
Female  slaves  work  in  the  plantations  reasonably  well.  Emancipation 
from  slavery,  however,  decreases  the  efficiency  and  amount  of  their 


256       LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES. 

labor  luncli  more  than  it  does  that  of  men.  In  the  cities  female  occupa- 
tions, outside  of  private  domestic  einployraeut,  is  exceediu.<4ly  limited. 
There  is  probably  not  a  single  chambermaid  or  other  female  employed 
in  the  management  of  any  hotel  in  this  city.  The  females,  however, 
are  generally-  industrious  in  their  respective  homes.  Their  sphere  of 
usefulness  is  greatly  restricted  by  the  customs  of  the  country,  but 
within  their  allotted  sphere  they  are  faithful,  cheerful,  and  industrious. 

WM.  P.  PIEECB, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Cienfuegos,  July  31,  1884. 


SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA, 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  LANDREATT. 

In  regard  to  the  laboring  classes  it  is  impossible  to  give  an  exact  aver- 
age, as  the  so-called  slaves  are  paid  three  different  rates  of  wages  ;  the 
free  ones  have  adopted  an  arbitrary  rule,  and  the  sugar  ])lauters  have 
found  themselves  compelled  to  agree  to  their  demand,  that  is  to  say, 
that  at  present  and  for  the  last  four  months  they  iiave  been  obtaining 
$30  and  food  monthly,  and  some  of  them  u})  to  $45,  and  the  consequences 
are  that  the  ])lanters  find  themselves  compelled  to  abandon  the  sugar 
cultivation.  Concerning  the  prices  paid  by  said  laborers  for  necessaries 
of  life,  this  remains  a  complete  mystery,  owing  to  their  different  ways 
of  living. 

Generally  speaking  they  are  neither  steady  nor  saving,  being  too 
fond  of  pleasures. 

Strikes  are  never  heard  of  here. 

They  are  free  to  purchase  uecessaries  of  life  wherever  they  choose, 
and  no  conditions  imposed  by  employers,  and  they  are  paid  in  Spanish 
gold.  Rents  are  very  high  here,  and  living  very  costly  to  people  who 
have  to  do  so  decently. 

Owing  to  the  planters  stopping  work,  it  is  feared  that  the  result  will 
be  a  bread  war,  due  to  so  many  people  out  of  einplovment. 

JOHN  C.  LANDREAU, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Santiago  de  Cuba,  June  30, 1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  i^aid  per  day  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 
Masons 


BUILDING  TRADES. 


Tcnilers  — 
PlastortTs  ... 

Tenders 

Koofers 

Plumbers 

AsslstJiuts 

Carpenters 

Gas-litters 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$2  00 

$5  00 

1  00 

2  00 

1  00 

2  (10 

1  00 

2  00 

1  00 

2  00 

1  00 

2  no 

1  00 

1  50 

1  50 

3  00 

1  00 

3  00 

2  50 

4  00 

1  50 

2  00 

Average. 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES. 
Wages  paid  per  day  in  Santiago  de  Cuba — Continued. 


257 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

OTHER  TRADES. 

$1  50 
2  50 
1  00 
1  00 
1  50 

$2  00 
3  00 
3  00 
2  00 
2  50 

$1  50 
1  50 

1  00 

1  50 

2  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

1  00 

Jewelers 

1  50 

1  00 

Teachers,  public  schools 

*30  00 
1  50 
1  50 

80  00 
2  00 
2  00 

1  00 

Tailors 

1  00 
1  50 

1  50 

2  50 

■>  00 

*  Per  month. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

General  labor . 

$1  00 

$1  25 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  day  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  andiron  worhs  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$1  50 

$3  50 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  in  and  in  connection  ivith  Iron  Mines  Company  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Chiefs  of  camps per  month. 

Storekeepers do. . . 

Doctors'  assistants do... 

Ovoi'seers : do... 

Carpenters per  day. 

Laborers do 

Railroad  men do. .. 

Locomotive  engineers per  month . 

Bridge  carpenters per  day. 

Firemen do... 

Track -layers do. . . 

M  iners do . . . 

Drill  runners do . . . 

Clerks per  month . 


Lowest. 


$1  15 

225  00 

2  50 

1  25 

75 


Highest, 


$1  90 

300  00 

3  00 

1  75 

90 


Average. 


$100  00 

35  00 

30  00 

30  00 

1  25 

80 


1  50 

2  00 


92  A— 2  LAB- 


-17 


258       LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES. 


VI.   Bail  WAY  EMPLOYES. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations  as  ivell  as  those 
engaged  on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  t^-c.)  in  S'  ntiago  de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Administrator  of  railroad. 

•Computer 

Treasurer 

Secretary 

Cashier ,.. 

Office  clerks 


wages. 


Occupations. 


$2,  400  00 
1,  200  00 
1, 200  00 
1,  000  00 
1,  000  00 
500  00 


Conductors 

Station  clerks 

Telegraphists  ... 

Machinists 

Chief  of  foundry. 
Laborers 1. 


$720  00 

720 

00 

720 

00 

1,200 

00 

2,400 

00 

*1  00 

*  Per  day. 

VII.  Ship- YARDS  and  SHip-BuiLDma. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  in  ship-yards — dislinguishing  between  iron  and  tvood  ship- 
building— in  Santiago  de  Culm. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

•      $2  00 

$5  00 

YIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per'  month  to  seamen  {officers  and  men)  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$15  00 

$25  00 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in  Santiago  de 

Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Book-keepers... 

Cashiers 

Salesmen 

Grocery  clerks 


Lowest.  !  Highest. 


$70  00  I  $85  00 

60  00  75  00 

25  00  30  00 

10  00  I  17  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {totvns  and  cities)  in  Santiago  de  Cuba,  Island 

of  Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Coachmen 

Cooks  

Servants 

Washer  and  ironers. 


Lowest. 


$17  00 
8  50 
6  00 
8  00 


Highest. 


$20  00 

17  00 

10  00 

9  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  Santiago 

de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Free  laborers 

Patrocinados,  or  conditonally  freed. 


$17  00  $20  00 

2  00  I  4  00 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SPANISH    WEST    INDIES.       259 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid,  per  year,  to  the  corporation  emploijes  in  the  city  of  Santiago  de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.  I  Highest. 


Average. 


Mayor  of  the  city 

Secretary  

Clerks 

Computer  of  hoard  of  aldermen. 
Secretary  of  hoard  o^  aldermen. 

OflBcers 

Clerks 

Mnnicipal  school  teachers 


*$40  00       *$90  00 


$2, 000 
1,200 

500 
1,600 
1,600 

840 
4,000 


*Per  month. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  year  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of  trades- 
men and  laborers,  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

[Five  hours  a  day.] 


Occapations. 


Civil  governor 

Secretary  of  government 

Assistant  secretary 

Five  officers,  Ist,  2d  and  5th. 

Civil  judges 

Attorneys 

SUBDJTENDENCY. 

Subintendent 

Secretary  

First  officer 

Clerks 

Collector  of  taxes 

Chief  of  section 

Third  officer 

Fifth  officer 

Coui^selor  at  law 

Computer 

Second  officer 

Fourth  officer 

Sixth  officer 

Treasurer 

CUSTOM-HOUSE. 

Collector 

Computer 

Fifth  officer 

Third  officer 

Fourth  officer 

Interpreter 

Druggist  

Weighers 

Captain  of  port 

Assistant  captain  of  port 

Clerks 

Paymaster 

POLICE. 

Chief  of  police 

Officers 

BOARD  OF  IIEALTIT 

Doctor-secretary  


Aveiage  11 
"Wages.   1] 


Occapations. 


$7,  000 
3,000 
1,800 
1,260 
4,500 
2,700 


6,000 
1,800 
1,600 
1,400 
2,800 
1,600 
1,400 
1,070 
1,400 
2,050 
1,400 
1,200 
1,000 
1,600 


2,500 

1,850 

1,000 

1,400 

1,000 

1,000 

500 

1,200 

4,200 

1,125 

720 

480 


3,000 
1,200 


1,200 


POST-OFFICE. 


Postmaster 

Intflrventor 

Officer 

A  ssistants 

International  officer 

Mail-carrier,  steamers'  officer. 
Clerk 


INSPECTION  OF  CIVIL  ENGINEERS. 


Chief  engineer. 
Assistant 


INSPECTION  OF  MINES. 


Chief  inspector. 

Assistant 

Clerk 


PUBLIC  WOKKS. 


Chief  inspector . 

Assistants 

Overseers 

Drawer 


TELEGRAPH. 


Station  chief 

Officexs 

Officer  of  station 

Do 

Clerks 

Telegram  carriers 

Clergy : 

Archbi.shop 

Vicar- general 

A  ttorney -general 

Clerk 

Dean  of  the  cathedral . 

Prebendaries 

Bo 

Do 

Cathedral  orchestra 

Parish  priests 


Average 


1,800 

1,300 

1,000 

400 

1,000 

330 

400 


3,700 
1,300 


3,700 

1,750 

400 


4,000 

1,800 

700 

500 


1,500 
600 
690 
900 
400 
240 

18,  OOo 
4,000 
2,700 
480 
4,500 
3,000 
2,500 
2,000 
5,  200 
600 


260  LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SAN    DOMINGO. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  showing  the  wages  paid,  pet-  annum,  to  printers  {compositors,  pressmen,  proof- 
readers, c^'C.)  in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Manager  of  printing  office $480  00 

Type  composers 300  00 

Pressmen 340  00 

Proof-readers 204  00 


$500  00 
400  00 
400  00 
250  00 


SAN    DOMINGO. 
PUERTO  PLATA. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  SIMPSON. 

In  answer  to  labor  circular  of  February  15, 1884,  I  have  the  honor  to 
return  herewith  the  blanks  which  refer  to  the  classes  of  labor  in  this 
district,  filled  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  correctly,  and  to  submit  the 
following  in  answer  to  the  interrogatories. 

COST   OF  LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  here  is  but  little,  as  with  a 
loaf  of  bread,  a  few  i^lantains,  and  occasionally  some  fresh  beef  or  pork, 
they  have  all  they  want  to  eat. 

Of  clothing  but  little  also  is  required,  and  that  of  the  commonest 
kind.  Eents  are  from  $5  to  |10  per  month  for  one  or  two  rooms.  Flour 
sells  for  $14  per  barrel,  but  is  seldom  bought  in  a  crude  state,  as  they 
have  neither  ovens  nor  stoves  in  which  to  cook  it.  Fresh  beef  costs 
from  12  to  15  cents  per  pound,  and  pork  from  20  to  25.  Common  cod 
and  hake  (of  which  considerable  is  consumed)  sells  for  10  cents  per 
pound ;  salt  pork,  20  cents. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 

The  habits  of  the  working  classes  are  not  very  steady,  especially  in 
the  country,  as  when  they  have  worked  hard  and  accumulated  a  few 
dollars  they  are  apt  to  want  a  rest,  and  generally  at  the  time  when 
their  services  are  most  needed. 

Within  a  year  or  two,  however,  there  has  been  a  marked  improve- 
ment in  this  respect,  and  it  is  believed  it  will  continue.  As  for  laying 
by  anything  for  a  rainy  day,  few  do  it. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Good  feeling  prevails  between  employe  and  emj)loyer. 
There  are  no  labor  organizations  and  no  strikes  occur. 
They  are  free  to  purchase  where  they  please,  and  are  paid  weekly, 
generally,  in  Mexican  dollars  or  their  equivalent. 
There  are  no  co-operative  societies. 

WORKING   PEOPLE. 

Their  wants  are  few,  as  the  climate  is  always  warm.  A  roof  to  cover 
them,  a  few  chairs,  a  table,  cot  or  hammock,  are  sufiicieut  for  the  hour. 


LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SAN    DOMINGO. 


261 


One  or  two  suits  a  year  of  blue  denim,  with  the  same  number  of  shirts, 
of  coarse  cloth,  are  enough  to  clothe  them. 

As  for  bettering  their  condition,  few  think  or  care ;  neither  do  they 
think  of  laying  by  anything  for  old  age  or  sickness.  They  are  quite 
temperate,  but  somewhat  addicted  to  gambling  in  the  form  of  lotteries, 
cock-fighting,  &c. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

All  males  over  twenty-one  years  of  age  are  entitled  to  vote,  and  may 
vote  for  whom  they  please;  but  they  generally  follow  the  lead  of  some 
official  or  prominent  man  in  their  district.  Their  votes  have,  however, 
very  little  influence  on  legislation.  There  are  no  direct  taxes  on  the 
workingman,  the  revenue  of  the  country  being  derived  from  duties  on 
imports  and  exports. 

THOMAS  SIMPSON, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Puerto  Plata,  May  28,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  toeek  of  sixtsj  hours  in  Puerto  Plata. 


Occupations.  . 


Carpenters 

Bakers 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

Laborers,  porters,  &,c . . . 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  schools 

Stevedores 

Tailors 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$6  00 

$12  00 

6  00 

11  50 

6  00 

11  25 

6  00 

11  50 

6  00 

6  00 

6  00 

7  50 

HO  00 

*100  00 

9  00 

12  00 

4  75 

9  00 

Average. 


$7  50 
7  25 
7  10 
7  25 
6  00 

6  75 
*80  00 

10  75 

7  25 


*  Per  month. 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

fVafjes  paid  per  week  of  sixtij  hours  in  sugar  mills  iu  Puerto  Plata. 


Occupations. 

L9we8t. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$12  .50 
12  50 
3  00 

$25  00 

25  00 

3  60 

$20  00 

20  00 

3  30 

VIII.  Seamen's  waqes. 

Waf/es  2)(iid  pm'  month  to  seamen  {offieers  and  men)  in  Puerto  Plata. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Ordinary  seamen  (coast) 
Masters 


$12  00 
25  00 


$12  00 
25  00 


$12  00 
25  00 


262  LABOR    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES:    SAN    DOMINGO. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  v^stores,  tvkolesale  or  retail,  in  Puerto  Plata. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Clerks  (with  board) 

Bookkeepers  (without  board) . 


$20  00 
100  00 


$50  00 
200  00 


$30  00 
125  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Puerto  Plata. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Hie;hest. 

Average. 

Cooks 

$3  00 
3  00 
2  50 

$5  00 
4  00 
4  00 

$4  00 
3  50 

3  00 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  Puerto 

Plata. 


Occupations. 

Lowest 

Highest. 

Average. 

$3  00 
4  00 
3  00 

$3  60 
5  00 
3  60 

$3  30 

4  50 

General  laborers* '. 

3  30 

*  Without  board.  t  With  board. 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  hours  to  employes  in  Government 
departments  and  offices  {exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers)  in  Puerto  Plata. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$120  00 
90  00 
150  00 
90  00 
60  00 
60  00 
60  00 
15  00 
20  00 

$120  00 

Collector,  deputy 

90  00 

150  00 

90  00 

Registrar 

60  00 

Interpreter 

60  00 

Clerks 

$45  00 
10  00 
15  00 

50  00 

Tidi  waiters 

11  00 

17  50 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  ^c.)  in  Puerto  Plata. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$6  00 
6  00 

$7  50  1          $6  75 

7  50               6  75 

«F 

CONTINENT  OF  ASIA. 


TURKEY  I^  ASIA. 

ASIA  MINOR. 

SMYRNA. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  STEVENS. 
WANT   OF  STATISTICS. 

Soou  after  receiving  the  Labor  Circular  bearing  date  February  15, 
1884,  Department  of  State,  I  began  the  collection  of  facts  and  figures 
required  in  the  preparation  of  a  truthful  statement  of  the  present  con- 
dition of  labor  within  my  consular  jurisdiction,  which  extends  over  the 
pashalic  of  Aidiu  and  includes  the  chief  commercial  city  of  the  Turkish 
Empire. 

The  work  has  been  attended  with  difficulties  from  the  outset,  hinder- 
ing expedition  and  calling  into  exercise  all  the  skill,  ])atieuce,  and  tact 
at  my  command.  The  natives  are  suspicious  of  all  foreigners  who 
question  them  concerning  their  social  and  economic  relations.  More- 
over, the  methods  of  imposing  and  collecting  taxes  are  such  that  they 
conduce  to  habits  of  reticence,  concealment,  and  evasion.  These  and 
other  qualities  peculiar  to  Mohammedans  and  to  rayahs,  render  them 
unpromising  subjects  for  the  interviewer. 

Nevertheless,  I  have  succeeded  in  getting  full  and  nearly  accurate 
information  on  all  essential  points.  The  industrial  conditions  here  are, 
however,  so  exceptional  when  contrasted  with  those  of  Christian  coun- 
tries that  I  have  been  compelled  to  deviate  somewhat  from  some  of 
the  i)rinted  forms  and  to  omit  others  altogether. 

I  cannot  learn  that  statistics  covering  the  subjects  named  in  the 
circular  have  ever  before  been  collected  in  this  country.  In  1854:  the 
American  consul  here  sent  a  partial  report  on  the  then  rate  of  wages 
and  cost  of  living,  but  if  any  later  statement  ot  a  kindred  nature  has 
been  made,  the  records  in  this  ofQce  fail  to  show  it. 

EXPLANATORY. 

In  striking  averages  the  instructions  of  the  Department  have  been 
closely  followed.  Hence  the  average  column  represents  the  amount  of 
wages  paid  to  the  larger  number  of  the  workmen  in  the  various  occu- 
pations enumerated. 

Many  of  the  occui)ations  given  are  followed  for  only  a  part  of  the 
year,  being  dependent  upon  agricultural  or  horticultural  production, 
and  the  wages  fluctuate  accordingly  as  this  is  large  or  small,  or  as  it  is 
affected  in  price  by  the  markets.    Then,  again,  workmen  engage  suc- 

263 


264  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR. 

cessively  in  two  or  more  different  kinds  of  employment,  and  in  this  way 
fill  out  the  year. 

Formerly  nearly  all  the  skilled  workmen  on  the  two  lines  of  railway 
which  connect  Smyrna  with  the  interior  came  from  England.  Latterly, 
however,  their  places  have  been  taken  by  young  men  of  the  country, 
who  have  been  trained  in  the  workshops  of  the  two  companies. 

The  rates  of  wages  were  all  collected  in  the  Turkish  unit  of  values — 
the  piaster — and  then  reduced  to  our  currency,  careful  consideration 
being  given  to  fractional  equivalents. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

For  valuable  assistance  in  the  procurement  of  information,  I  take 
pleasure  in  acknowledging  indebtedness  to  the  following-named  parties: 

Mr.  Thomas  Hall,  firm  of  Hall  &  Mingardo,  ship  chandlers;  Mr.  Stab, 
a  local  statistician  of  merit  and  correspondent  of  various  learned  socie- 
ties; Mr.  Edward  Purser,  geueral  manager  of  the  Ottoman  Kailway ;  Mr. 
H.  Kemj),  general  manager  Smyrna  and  Cassaba  Eailway;  Mr.  Papps, 
proprietor  machine-shop;  Mr.  Carmanyolo,  in^oj)rietor  machine-shop; 
Mr.  Issigonis,  proprietor  machine  shop ;  Mr.  D.  Uffley,  an  American 
merchant  and  farmer  residing  in  Smyrna.  I  come  now  to  the  specific 
inquiries. 

RATES   OF  WAOES. 

The  hours  of  labor  vary  somewhat,  but  in  no  branch  or  department 
are  the  hours  so  many  or  the  labor  so  continuous  as  in  Europe  or  America. 
Mechanics  frequently  work  from  sun  to  sun,  but  they  take  two  hours 
for  dinnerj  with  long  "  rests  "  in  the  intervals  of  work.  Eailway  work- 
men average  about  the  same  number  of  hours  and  perform  pretty  much 
the  same  amount  of  labor  as  their  prototypes  in  the  west.  Agricultural 
laborers  work  about  six  hours  per  day.  They  begin  at  8  a.  m.  and  finish 
at  4  J),  m.,  with  two  hours,  suspension  at  noon.  When,  as  sometimes 
happens,  there  is  work  which  requires  haste,  such  as  digging  the  vine- 
yards (in  the  month  of  February),  and  similar  work,  more  hours  are  im- 
proved, usually  with  a  corresponding  increase  of  pay.  At  such  times 
an  able-bodied  farm  laborer  gets  20  piasters  (81  cents)  per  day.  There 
are  certain  kinds  of  labor,  such  as  packing  figs,  sorting  valonia,  gather- 
ing grapes,  i&c,  the  demand  for  which  is  confined  mainly  to  the  harvest 
season.  If  the  demand  is  pressing,  wages  are  increased;  if  lax,  wages 
fall  correspondingly. 

COST   OF  LIVINGr,   ETC. 

If  the  wages  of  the  laboring  man  are  small,  so  are  his  necessities. 
He  is  content  with  the  cheapest  and  simplest  food,  an  abode  having 
little  or  no  furniture  but  such  as  he  has  himself  fashioned,  and  cloth- 
ing of  common  material,  made  up  in  the  family.  The  climate  is  so  mild 
that  for  nine  months  in  the  year  shoes  or  other  covering  for  the  feet,  and 
heavy  clothing  as  well,  are  dispensed  with.  The  daily  meals  consist  of 
coffee  and  bread  for  breakfast,  olives,  onions,  and  bread  for  dinner, 
soup  (made  of  peas,  beans,  or  rice),  vegetables,  and  bread  for  supper. 
This  bill  of  fare  is  varied  occasionally  by  the  addition  of  eggs,  meat, 
and  fish.  The  cost  of  living  to  an  average  family  in  the  country  does 
not  exceed  4  piasters,  say  IG  cents,  per  day,  and  the  clothing  can  hardly 
aggregate  $15  per  year,  except  for  the  better  class  of  mechanics  and 
laborers  residing  in  Sraj-rna  or  along  the  railway  lines,  where  there  is 
a  disposition  among  the  female  members  of  the  family  to  wear  showy 
dresses.  It  is  noticeable  that  the  hardest  working  laborers  in  the  cities, 
viz,  the  porters  or  "  hamals,"  live  the  most  frugally.    Their  daily  fare 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR.  265 

consists  of  bread  and  onions,  with  now  and  tlien  an  olive,  and  yet  they 
carry  enormons  loads  npon  their  bent  backs,  loads  such  as  few  Euro- 
pean porters  could  stand  under,  much  less  carry,  over  uneven  pave- 
ments, and  through  streets  too  narrow  and  crooked  for  the  passage  of 
any  four-footed  beast  of  burden.  The  material  of  their  «lothing,  which 
is  always  scanty,  is  thin  canvas,  and  a  suit  costs  about  $2.  One  suit 
will  last  a  year  or  more. 

COMPARISON   OF  WAGES,   ETC. 

As  I  have  no  data  at  hand  from  which  to  draw  a  comparison  with  the 
wages  which  prevailed  here  in  1878, 1  am  compelled  to  go  back  to  a  re- 
port made  in  1854:  by  the  gentleman  in  charge  of  this  consulate  at  that 
time,  from  which  I  have  been  able  to  construct  the  following  statement 
covering  some  of  the  leading  occupations : 


Occapations. 


1884. 


Bakers per  week..  $0  80  $1  46 

Blacksmiths do 4  80  6  11 

Butchers do !  3  00  3  67 

Carpenters do 3  84  |  4  89 

Coopers do 5  40  !  6  11 

Dyers do 4  32  I  3  67 

Laborers.-. do 1  44  2  69 

Masons do 3  36  4  16 

Millers do....  2  88  2  93 


35  69 


Increase. 


^■5  85 


*  Nearly  20  per  cent. 
HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

Unobjectionable  in  the  main.  If  regularly  employed  and  paid,  they 
are  trustworthy  and  steadj",  although  inclined  to  be  indolent.  An  aver- 
age American  laborer  will  do  as  much  work  in  one  day  as  an  Asiatic 
workman  in  two.  This  is  due,  in  part  at  least,  to  climatic  influences. 
They  are  not,  as  a  rule,  frugal  or  saving,  being  content  to  live  in  the 
sphere  in  which  they  were  born.  In  the  cities,  however,  they  display 
more  ambition,  and  some  of  them  have  acquired  considerable  property. 
Nearly  all  own  the  houses  in  which  they  live,  miserable  structures,  to 
be  sure,  but  rent  free.  Even  the  poorest  laborer  seldom  marries  until 
he  has  a  roof  to  cover  him,  although  it  may  not  be  worth,  land  included, 
$25,  and  consists  of  only  one  small  apartment.  In  the  rural  districts  he 
is  a  very  poor  laborer  indeed  who  does  not  possess  a  cabin  and  a  goat 
or  two. 

One  of  the  chief  causes  operating  against  the  advancement  of  the 
laboring  classes  in  Asia  Minor  is  the  insecurity  of  property,  arising  from 
lawlessness  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  rapacity  of  dishonest  ofiicials  on 
the  other.  The  peasant  sees  his  rich  neighbor  and  employer  despoiled, 
and  is  content  to  remain  an  object  too  pitiful  to  temi)t  the  cu})idit3'  of 
the  despoiler.  Then  there  is  a  strong  tendency,  in  the  rural  districts, 
to  keep  to  the  old  ways,  using  tools  identical  in  pattern  with  those  of 
the  dark  ages,  and  to  look  with  disfavor  ui)on  the  march  of  improve- 
ment. 

THE  FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYE  AND  EMPLOYER. 

There  is  no  feeling  of  antagonism  between  employ^  and  employer. 
On  the  contrary  very  kind  relationsexist  between  tliem,  and  they  not 
unfrequently  share  and  share  alike.    With  a  prosperous  season  the  em- 


266  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR. 

ployer  shares  his  good  fortune  with  his  faithful  workuieu ;  in  a  bad 
season,  the  burdens  are  proportionately  borne.  As  a  result  of  this  state 
of  affairs,  emi)loyers  do  not  make  large  fortunes,  as  in  some  other  coun- 
tries, nor  are  the  laboring  classes  ever  reduced  to  absolnte  want,  a  con- 
dition of  things  often  brought  about  in  more  favored  (?)  lands. 

ORGANIZED   LABOR,    STRIKES,    ETC. 

In  answer  to  paragraphs  six  and  seven  of  the  circular,  I  may  say  that 
there  is  no  organized  condition  of  labor  or  of  capital,  hence  no  local 
laws  bearing  upon  the  subject,  no  strikes,  and  few  cases  for  arbitration. 

Concerning  the  eighth  jjaragraph  it  can  be  said  that  the  working  i)eo- 
ple  are  free  to  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life  wherever  they  choose, 
and  that  they  are  paid  weekly  as  a  rule,  in  the  current  coin  of  the 
country.     Paper  money  is  not  current  anywhere  in  Turkey. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

There  are  but  two  such  in  this  country,  and  they  are  of  English  origin, 
having  been  established  for  the  convenience  of  the  English  employes  on 
the  two  lines  of  railway  heretofore  mentioned.  The  shares  are  mostly 
owned  b}^  workmen.  They  are  understood  to  be  in  a  prosperous  condi- 
tion, enabling  the  workmen  to  jjurchase  the  ordinary  necessaries  of  life 
at  a  low  figure,  and  also  to  get  from  England  some  of  those  articles  of 
food  and  apparel  to  which  they  were  formerly  accustomed. 

GENERAL   CONDITION    OF    THE   WORKING   PEOPLE,    ETC. 

The  condition  of  the  working  people  in  Asia  Minor  is  not  one  of  hard- 
ship or  destitution.  There  is  no  suffering  from  poverty,  and  employment 
of  some  kind  can  almost  always  be  had.  Their  homes  are  not  attractive, 
but  for  eight  months  of  the  year  they  pass  most  of  their  time  out  of 
doors.  Their  food  is  wholesome,  but  simple  ;  their  clothes  scant  and 
cheap;  they  have  no  wish  apparently  to  better  their  condition  or  to 
make  provision  for  old  age  or  sickness.  There  are  exceptions,  of  course, 
in  the  cities  and  among  the  artisans,  especially  those  of  foreigh  birth, 
but  the  great  mass  of  the  laboring  population  in  the  rural  districts  is 
content  if  present  needs  are  supplied,  and  it  takes  little  heed  of  the 
morrow.  Physically,  they  will  compare  favorably  with  workingmen  of 
other  countries;  but  their  moral  standard  is  not  high.  They  are  igno- 
rant and  superstitious.  Few  of  them  know  how  to  read.  1  refer  to  all 
the  races  and  sects,  Moslem,  Greek,  Jew,  and  Armenian.  Tlie influences 
by  which  they  are  surrounded  are  not  calculated  to  elevate  them  in  the 
scale  of  humanity  or  of  happiness,  unless  it  be  true  that  "  ignorance  is 
bliss."  Until  a  government  of  organized  oppression  and  roboery  is  suc- 
ceeded by  one  having  the  welfare  of  all  its  subjects  at  heart,  there  is 
little  hope  of  the  moral  and  material  improvement  of  the  working  classes 
of  this  country  at  all  connuensurate  with  its  natural  advantages.  Here 
I  submit  a  statement  made  by  the  owner  of  a  large  farm  : 

The  united  earnings  of  a  husband  and  wife  having  two  children  de- 
pendent upon  them  for  one  year  amounts  to,  say,  3,000  piasters  or 
$122.25. 

They  spend  as  follows : 

For  rent  of  two  rooms  and  a  kitcbcu |26  89 

For  clothing _. 24  45 

For  food 45  64 

Savino; 25  27 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR.  267 

In  additiou,  tbey  generally  cultivate,  after  regular  work  hours,  a  small 
piece  of  land,  purchased  of  the  Government,  and  raise  grapes  for  the 
market,  realizing  quite  a  little  sum. 

No  special  provision  is  made  for  the  safety  of  employes  in  factories, 
mills,  or  railroads.  The  working  i)eo])le  enjoj'  no  political  rights  what- 
ever, but  bear  their  full  share  of  the  burdens  of  taxation. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

Women  are  found  in  almost  every  department  of  labor,  but  children 
are  only  employed  at  farm  work  and  in  the  cities  in  fruit  iiacking  and 
valonia  cleaning.  Women  labor  in  the  fields  as  continuously  as  the 
men.  In  the  towns  they  cultivate  the  gardens,  pack  fruit,  and  do  white- 
washing in  addition  to  their  usual  avocations.  The  whitewashers  are 
stout  Jewesses.  Why  they  have  taken  up  this  branch  of  work,  so  coarse 
and  laborious,  I  do  not  know ;  but  it  is  true  that  they  have  a  monoi)oly 
of  whitewashing.  The  average  wages  paid  to  females  are  given  in  the 
accompanying  tables.  Their  hours  of  labor  are  from  seven  to  eight  per 
day,  with  rest  for  meals.  In  the  country  they  frequently  work  from 
nine  to  ten  hours.  They  are  physically  strong  and  healthy,  and  morally 
not  lower  than  the  same  class  in  other  countries  where  women  are 
regarded  as  inferior  beings  and  treated  as  beasts  of  burden. 

The  effect  of  the  employment  of  women  on  the  wages  of  men  is  not 
perceptible,  but  taking  the  former  from  the  care  of  the  household  and 
placing  them  in  the  fields  and  at  other  masculine  employments  is  in 
every  way  injurious.  There  is  absolutely  no  education  among  the  em- 
ployed women  and  their  children ;  but  while  the  home  circle  is  neces- 
sarily much  broken  family  ties  seem  to  be  very  strong. 

CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

I  ought  to  have  stated  in  the  introductory  part  of  this  report  that 
this  consulate  does  not  possess  a  copy  of  the  Department  publication 
"  Showing  the  state  of  labor  in  Europe  in  1878."  I  have  not  been  able 
therefore  to  institute  any  comparisons  based  upon  that  work. 

It  should  be  stated  also  that  there  are  no  public  institutions  in  this 
country  for  the  support  of  the  poor  or  the  unfortunate,  and  no  public 
schools.  There  are  no  workhouses,  no  asylums  for  the  insane,  the  blind, 
the  deaf  and  dumb,  or  the  idiotic.  There  are  hospitals  in  the  larger 
places,  and  also  schools,  but  they  are  wholly  supported  by  private  sub- 
scriptions. 

The  result  of  this  state  of  affairs  is  swarms  of  beggars  of  hideous 
mien  upon  all  the  streets  and  thoroughfares,  and  universal  illiteracy 
among  the  poorer  classes  of  the  laboring  people. 

Well-informed  people  remark  a  change  for  the  better  among  laborers, 
especially  in  Smyrna,  where  the  wages  of  both  sexes  have  increased 
during  the  past  six  years  from  10  to  20  per  cent.  Among  the  more  re- 
munerative trades  a  desire  to  educate  their  children  is  shown. 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  giving  credit  to  my  faithful  clerk, 
Mr.  E.  G.  Corbetti,  for  his  share  in  its  preparation.  The  labor  of  pre- 
paring the  tables,  a  titlie  of  the  amount  of  which  and  the  necessary 
painstaking  does  not  show  to  the  casual  examiner,  was  performed  by 
him.  I  have  incurred  no  extra  expense  in  gathering  the  facts  embodied 
in  this  report;  but  in  view  of  his  very  inadequate  comi^ensation,  his 


268 


LA.BOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR. 


fidelity  and  loyalty,  I  venture  to  suggest  that  a  gratuity  be  allowed  to 
Mr.  Corbetti, 

Eegretting  the  unavoidable  delay  which  has  attended  the  prepara- 
tion of  this  report. 

W.  E.  STEVENS, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Smyrna,  July  11,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty-six  hours  in  Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

BricTilayers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers  

Tenders 

Slaters  

Roofess 

Tenders 

Plumbers ". 

Assistants 

Carpenters 

Gas-fitters 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Book-binders! 

Brick-makers 

Butcbers 

Brass-founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigarette-makers  (girls) 

Coopers 

Cutlers 

Distillers 

Drivers : 

Draj'men'and  teamsters 

Cab  and  carriage 

Street  railway 

Dyers 

Engravers 

Furriers 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

Horsesboers  

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Lithoijraphers 

Millwrights 

Nail-uiakors  (hand) 

Potters 

Printers 

Teachers,  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sail-makers .• 

Stevedores  

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths 

Weavers  (outside  of  mills) 


Lowest. 


$3  67 
1  22 
3  67 
1  22 
3  67 
1  22 
3  67 
3  67 

1  22 
3  67 

2  44 

2  44 

3  67 


Highest. 


Average. 


2  44 
4  89 
2  44 
4  89 
2  44 
4  89 
4  89 

2  44 
9  78 

3  67 
6  11 

12  22 


2  44 

12  22 

4  89 

7  33 

4  89 

4  39 

12  22 

12  22 

4  89 

1  95  I 
7  33 

2  44 

2  20 

4  89 
4  89 
4  89 
4  89 
9  78 
7  33 

3  67 
6  11 
3  67 
9  78 

2  93 
9  78 
6  11 

3  67 

4  89 
4  89 

12  22 

3  67 
6  11 
6  11 
2  93 

4  89 
C  11 
4  89 
2  93 


$4  16 
1  71 
4  16 
1  71 
4  16 
1  71 
4  16 
4  16 

1  71 
4  89 

2  93 
4  89 
6  11 


1  46 
6  11 

2  44 

3  67 

2  44 

3  67 
6  11 

4  89 
3  67 
1  46 

6  11 
1  71 

1  71 

3  67 
3  67 
3  67 

3  67 

7  33 

4  89 

2  93 

3  67 
2  44 

6  11 
2  69 

7  33 

4  89 
2  44 

2  44 

3  67 
6  11 
2  44 

4  89 

5  37 

2  44 

3  67 

2  93 

3  67 
2  44 


KOTE.— The  above  wages  are  given  in  Dnited  States  gold  dollars  at  the  rate  of 
silver  piaster. 


).04075  per  Turkish 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA   MINOR. 


269 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty-six  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


Engineer  (native) 

Foremen 

Stone  dressers 

Firemen 

Millers 

Assistant  millers. 
Laborers 


Lowest. 


$11  00 
9  78 
5  38 
3  42 
2  69 
2  44 
2  44 


Highest. 


$16  50 

12  22 

9  78 

i  16 

3  91 

2  93 

3  42 


Average. 


$13  20 
10  76 
6  60 
3  67 
2  93 
2  69 
2  69 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  j>a(<i  per  week  of  sixty-six  hours  in  foundries,  maehine-sho2)s,  and  ironworks  in 

Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$12  22 

$18  34 

5  62 

11  49 

6  11 

9  78 

6  11 

9  78 

5  38 

9  78 

5  38 

9  78 

4  89 

7  82 

4  89 

6  85 

3  42 

4  16 

3  42 

4  16 

2  69 

3  42 

2  44 

4  16 

2  44 

3  42 

2  44 

3  42 

1  22 

2  44 

Average. 


Foremen 

Smiths 

Boiler-makers 

Coppersmiths 

Fitters 

Turners 

Pattern-makers 

Molders 

Assistant  boiler-makers 

Firemen 

Boiler  cleaners 

Strikers 

Assistant  molders 

Laborers 

Boys 


$14  67 
7  82 
7  33 
7  33 
6  85 
6  85 
6  11 
5  62 
3  67 
3  67 
2  93 
2  93 
2  69 
2  69 
1  71 


V.  Mines  and  minings. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  eleven  hours  in  and  in  connection  with  chrome,  emery,  andmanganese 

mines  in  Asia  Minor. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$1  22 
61 
41 
41 

$2  44 
2  04 
1  02 

$1  63 
1  02 

fil 

Sorters .. 

1  02  1                61 

•  VI.  Eailwat  employ:6s. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  linenien,  railroad  laborers,  ^c.)  in  Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$35  86 

$44  82 

20  37 

81  50 

23  63 

36  67 

21  19 

30  97 

8  96 

30  97 

15  48 

25  26 

13  04 

18  74 

9  78 

17  11 

1  02 

2  04 

61 

1  83 

81 

1  43 

65 

1  83 

49 

1  02 

41 

61 

41 

61 

41 

49 

Average. 


"Way  inspectors per  month 

Station  masters do . . 

Guards  of  trains do. . 

Gangers  of  parties  of  workmen do. . 

Clerks  and  telegraphists do.. 

Ticket  collectors do. . 

Underguards  of  trains do.. 

Guards  of  stations do.. 

Drivers  of  engines per  day 

Boiler-makers,  titters,  turners,  and  smiths do. . 

Masons do.. 

Carpenters do.. 

Firemen do.. 

Laborers do. . 

Porters,  pointsmen,  pumpers,  &c do  . 

Roadmen do.. 


$39  12 

36  67 

27  71 

25  26 

19  56 

17  93 

15  48 

11  41 

1  43 

1  14 

1  02 

94 

65 

49 

49 

45 


270  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR. 

VII.  Ship- YARDS  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  j)eT  week  of  sixty-six  hours  I))  shij)-}iards  in  Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


Overseers . . 
Shipwrights 

Calkers 

Boys 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$9  78 
3  67 
3  67 
1  22 

$14  67 
7  33 
7  33 
2  44 

Average. 


$12  22 
4  89 
4  89 
1  71 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty-six  hours  in  hardware,  millinery,  grocery,  and  dry  goods  stores, 
wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females  in  Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


Cashiers 

Book-keepers 

Salesmen 

Money  collectors* 

Saleswomen 

Errand-boys 


Lowest. 


$12  22 
7  83 
6  11 
6  11 
2  44 
1  22 


Highest. 


$24  45 
12  22 
9  78 
9  78 
4  89 
2  44 


Average. 


$14  67 
8  56 
7  33 
7  33 
3  67 
1  71 


"■  Money  collectors  employed  by  the  job  get  from  5  to  10  per  cent,  on  amount  collected  ;  sometimes  25 
to  50  per  cent,  for  bad  debts. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wnges  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  to  agricultural  laborers  in  Smyrna,  without  hoard  or 

lodging. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$0  81 

$1  22 

61 

1  02 

41 

81 

41 

81 

41 

81 

41 

81 

41 

81 

20 

41 

20 

41 

20 

41 

20 

29 

Average. 


Boss  husbandmen 

Grafters 

Tillers 

Sowers : 

Mowers ^ 

Thrashers 

Vine  tarrers 

Vintagers* 

Fruit  gatherers* 

Weeders  * 

Vine  snlphurers  * 

*Mostly  women  and  boys 


$1  02 
81 
61 
61 
61 
61 
61 
29 
29 
29 
24 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty-six  hours  to  printers  {compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  L^c.)  in  Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$4  89 
4  89 
2  44 
1  22 

$6  11 
6  11 
3  42 
1  71 

$5  38 

5  38 

2  69 

1  47 

Compositors  . 
Proof-readers 

Pressmen 

Inkers  (boys) 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR. 


271 


XVI.  Female  labor. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  ten  hours  to  female  laborers  in  Smyrna. 


Occupations. 


Laundresses 

Teachers 

Dreasniakers 

Seamstresses 

Fig-pack  ei's 

Valonia  cleaners 

Guni-tiafjaciintli  sorters 

Panu  laborers 

Cigari'ttc-makers 

Eag-sortcrs 

Bbnesortcrs 

Cotton-pickers 

Carpet-weavers 

Servants* 


Highest. 


Average. 


$0  61 

$0  81 

80  73 

41 

81 

61 

41 

81 

61 

20 

41 

29 

20 

41 

29 

20 

41 

29 

20 

41 

29 

20 

41 

29 

20 

33 

24 

16 

33 

20 

16 

33 

20 

12 

20 

16 

12 

20 

16 

08 

16 

12 

*In  addition  to  board  and  lodging  servants  get  three  pair  of  shoes  and  two  dresses  per  year. 


MYTILENE. 

REPORl  BY  CONSULAR  AGENT  FOTTION. 

Conformably  to  tbe  iustructious  contaiued  iu  the  Department's  circu- 
lar of  February  15,  1884,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  re- 
port concerning  the  condition  of  labor  at  Mytilene.  The  result  of  my 
examination  revealed  that  the  average  weekly  wages  paid  to  each  com- 
mon laborer  amounts  to  $3.50. 

The  hours  of  labor  are  from  C  to  C,  with  one  hour  for  breakfast  and 
one  hour  for  dinner,  or  per  week  sixty  hours,  except  Sunday,  and  in 
winter  till  dusk. 

Farm  laborer,  from  G  a.  m.  to  6  p.  m.,  with  eating  time. 
A  workingman  can  live  on  from  $1.75  to  $2.10  per  week,  with  wife 
and  three  or  four  children. 

I  give  the  following  table  showing  the  average  weekly  expenses  for 
the  support  of  a  common  laborer,  with  wife  and  three  or  four  children : 

Taxes iJiO  01 

House-hire. — Everybody  here  has  his  own  house,  and  a  bit  of  land,  with  olive 
trees  or  vines,  upon  which  he  raises  what  vegetables  he  uses. 

Clothing  and  wasliing . . . . ; 30 

Eating  and  drinking: 

Liquor 17 

Bread 80 

Meats 32 

Vegetables 10 

Fishes 10 

Rice 10 

Cheese 20 

Total 2  10 

FOOD  PRICES. 

I  give  also  the  market  prices  of  articles  of  food  as  sold  there. 


Articles. 


Ox  meat per  3J  pounds.. 

Mutton do 

Veal do 

Cheese do 

Fowls each . . 

Ducks do 

Flour per  31  pounds. . 

Potatoes  -' do 

Egga,  fresh per  dozen . . 


Cost. 


Articles. 


Butter per  3J  pounds. 

Fish do... 

Bread do... 

Onions do . . . 

Kice do... 

Sugar do... 

Coffee do... 

Cabbages per  dozen. 


Cost. 


$0  55 
20 
06 
02 
08 
20 
40 
04 


272 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    ASIA    MINOR. 
Wages  and  cost  of  living  in  Myiilene. 


Classes  and  position. 


Civil. 

Governor per  year. 

Secretaries do... 

Chief  of  police do... 

Policemen do... 


Legal. 


Judges... 
Notaries  . 


.do. 


Medieal. 


Doctors  and  surgeons. 


Literary. 

Director  of  school : .' per  year. 

Professors do... 

Teachers do... 

Clerical. 

Archbishops do... 

Priests • . 


Commercial. 

Agents per  year . 

Clerks  and  hook.keepers do . . . 

Salesmen do... 

Errand  boy 

Washerwomen per  day . 

Customs. 

Director per  year. 

Assistants do . . . 

Interpreters do . . . 

Inspectors do . . . 

Telegraph  operators do . . . 

Artisans. 

Shoemakers per  day. 

Iron-  workers do . . . 

Carpenters do... 

Masons do... 

Tailors do... 

Brick-makers do . . . 

Cigar-makers per  M . 

Producers. 

Farm  hands per  day. 

"Woodmen   do... 

Fishermen do... 

Servants. 

Family  servants per  year. 

"Water-carriers per  day. 

Cook  women per  year . 

Nurses do . . . 


Compen- 
sation. 


$6,  500  00 

1,  500  00 

750  00 

120  00 


180  00 

(*) 


(t) 


1,  000  00 
500  00 
150  00 


5,  000  00 

C) 


500  00 

200  00 

170  00 

90 

20 


840  00 
240  00 
420  00 
1, 200  00 
360  00 


50 
40 
70 
80 
40 
18 
1  00 


§25  00 

20 

§28  00 

§50  00 


Annual 
cost  of  liv- 
ing. 


■^  Per  cent.    t  Fifty,  sixty,  and  seventy  cents  per  visit.     J  Fees.     §  Two  dresses. 


United  States  Consular  Agency, 

Mytilene,  May  22,  1884. 


M.  M.  FOTTION,     - 
Consular  Agent. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SYRIA.  273 

SYRIA. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  ROBEHON,  OF  BEIRUT. 

In  reply  to  the  Department  circular,  dated  February  15, 1884,  askiug 
for  full  information  concerning  the  condition  of  labor,  T  have  the  honor 
to  state  that  I  have  carefully  examined  the  subject  and  beg  to  submit 
the  following  report,  with  tables  : 

PRESENT   CONDITION   OF   THE   LABORING   CLASSES. 

The  general  condition  of  the  laboring  classes  in  this  consular  district 
is  neither  satisfactory  nor  prosperous.  The  state  of  commerce  is  de- 
pressed on  account  of  the  trouble  in  Eg^'pt.  That  country  being  the 
principal  market  for  S\'rian  and  Aleppo  goods,  the  demand  for  the  same 
has  fallen  off  very  much  during  the  last  three  years,  and  wages  have 
consequently  lowered  in  proportion.  Most  of  the  native  weavers  of  silk 
and  cotton  goods  receive  from  20  to  •40  cents  a  daj",  a  sum  which  hardlj^ 
suffices  to  secure  for  them  the  daily  necessaries  of  life.  Not  over  o  per 
cent,  are  able  to  save  anything  from  their  wages,  and  in  many  cases 
weavers  work  for  wages  received  in  advance.  The  condition  of  agri- 
cultural laborers  is  not  any  better  throughout  the  country.  The  fella- 
heen (peasants)  for  many  years  have  been  subjected  to  heavy  taxes,  and 
pay  exorbitant  interest  upon  mouey  borrowed,  while  the  prices  of  cereals 
and  other  crops  are  below  the  average.  They  have,  in  fact,  been  strug- 
gling for  their  own  maintenance  and  that  of  their  families,  although  the 
climate  is  good  and  the  soil  rich  and  ])roductive  in  most  i^arts  of  the 
country'.  The  wages  i)aid  for  an  adult  plowman  with  a  team  of  oxen 
are  from  10  to  50  cents  a  day.  The  plowman,  as  a  rule,  feeds  himself 
and  team.  The  only  classes  of  laborers  whose  wages  have  increased 
for  the  last  few  years  are  masons  and  carpenters.  This  increase  is  due 
to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  capitalists  of  the  country,  being  unable  to 
use  their  capital  advantageously  in  commercial  transactions,  owing  to 
the  dullness  of  trade  prevailing  in  this  part  of  Turkey,  have  turned 
their  attention  to  buying  and  improving  real  estate  both  in  town  and 
country.  The  number  of  masons  and  carpenters  not  being  sufficient 
for  the  demand,  their  wages  have  increased  considerably.  The  silk 
factories,  which  number  ninety-iive  in  Syria,  provide  work  for  about 
eight  thousand  laborers.  The  average  wages  paid  to  spinners  of  both 
sexes  is  $1  a  week.  Although  the  said  amount  seems  to  be  very  small 
when  compared  to  the  wages  for  similar  work  in  America,  it  is  consid- 
ered very  satisfactory  by  the  working  class  of  i)eople  in  this  country. 
The  industry  of  the  country  is  gradually  improving,  and  would  improve 
very  materially  were  it  not  for  the  prejudice  of  the  Government  against 
foreign  capitalists  and  Ibreigners  coming  into  the  country.  •  The  num- 
ber of  laborers  is  few  in  comparison  to  the  ])oinilation.  Foreign  indus- 
trial and  agricultural  machinery  has  not  yet  found  its  way  to  the  Syrian 
market,  field,  or  workshop  to  any  extent.  The  looms  on  which  the 
native  stulls  are  made  are  of  a  ])rimitive  character,  and  the  tools  are  the 
same  as  have  been  used  for  centuries. 

SOCIAL   CONDITION  OF  WOMEN. 

The  social  condition  of  women  has  greatly  improved  in  this  country 
within  the  last  twenty-three  years.     Female  education  was  for  a  long 
time  considered  as  one  of  the  most  degrading  innovations  introduced 
92  A— 2  LAB 18 


274  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SYRIA. 

into  the  East  by  European  civilization.  Since  18G0  a  new  era  has 
opened  for  woman,  and  the  new  generation  considers  woman  as  the 
companion  of  man.  This  change  has  taken  phice  in  the  cities  and  vil- 
lages where  schools  have  been  opened  by  missionaries,  but  in  many 
parts  of  the  country  woman  still  remains  in  a  degraded  state  of  igno- 
rance, and  is  compelled  to  perform  work  which  she  is  unfitted  for.  On 
farms  women  plant,  sow,  and  reap.  They  have  also  to  do  the  dairy- 
work  and  feed  the  animals  of  the  farm.  A  large  majority  of  the  mount- 
ain girls  are  engaged  either  as  spinners  in  the  sdk  factories  of  the 
country  or  as  servants,  maids,  or  nurses  with  the  better  classes. 

SYSTEM   OF   HIRINGr  LABORERS. 

There  is  no  regular  or  public  system  adoi^ted  for  hiring  laborers. 
When  a  person  wants  to  hire  laborers  he  speaks  with  some  leading  per- 
son of  the  class  he  wishes  to  employ,  who  will  bring  the  number  wanted, 
and  for  this  service  he  Avill  receive  a  small  compensation  from  the  em- 
ployer. 

RATES  OF  WAGES. 

The  rates  of  wages  are  dependent  in  this  countrj-  on  the  supply  and 
demand.  During  the  winter  season  wages,  as  a  rule,  decrease,  as  a 
great  number  of  peasants  collect  in  the  towns,  from  their  agricultural 
districts,  where  they  try  to  find  work  till  spring.  The  wages  of  the 
laborers  who  permanently  reside  in  cities  do  not  change  very  much.  It 
is  common  to  see  a  man  working  one  day  as  a  mason  and  another  as 
camel  or  mule  driver  or  in  some  other  capacity  wherever  he  can  get 
the  highest  wages. 

COST   OF   LIVING. 

There  have  been  no  statistics  compiled  on  labor  in  this  country,  but 
the  cost  of  living  has  been  for  the  last  twenty-  years  gradually  increas- 
ing. The  opening  of  the  Suez  Canal,  the  increase  in  population  of  the 
country,  and  the  extension  of  commercial  relations  between  Europe  and 
this  part  of  Turkey  have  facilitated  the  exportation  of  various  articles 
of  food,  and  an  increase  in  price  of  about  15  jier  cent,  has  been  the  re- 
sult. 

House  rent  is  one  of  the  burdens  under  which  almost  every  workman 
labors  here.  A  small  room  can  be  hired  for  $1.25  per  month.  The 
mildness  of  the  climate  in  this  country,  especially  on  the  coast  and 
plains,  makes  clothing  and  fuel  a  light  charge  on  the  laborer  when  com- 
pared with  other  expenses.  The  cost  of  living  for  a  family  of  five  per- 
sons (husband,  wife,  and  three  children,  on  an  average),  with  an  income 
of  $2.50  per  week,  is  as  follows : 

lucome,  $2.50  per  week,  or  $130  per  year. 

Rent  expenses per  year..  .$15  60 

Taxes,  gas,  fnel,  &c do 9  OO 

Clothing do 13  50 

■.^s  m 

Bread per  day . .  $0  12 

Meat do 03 

Olives,  cheese,  and  oil do 07 

Vegetables do 07 

29=    90  48 

128  58 
Balance  saved 1  42 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SYRIA.  275 

CURRENCY. 

Turkish  coiu  lias  different  rates  in  every  city  tlironghout  the  Ottoman 
Empire,  and  even  in  the  same  i)]ace  it  often  has  two  or  three  rates. 
The  gohl  lira,  which  is  the  standard  currency,  is  worth  100  piasters  at 
the  Imperial  Ottoman  Bank,  the  (lovernment  and  customs  depart- 
ments, while  at  the  market  its  rate  is  123  piasters.*  However,  the 
money  used  generally  for  paying  all  working  classes  in  this  country  is 
the  silver  currency,  the  standard  coin  of  which  is  the  medjidi,  the  value 
of  which  is  22  piasters  and  oO  paras,  equal  to  82  cents. 

PAST   AND   PRESENT   WAGES. 

The  difference  between  the  present  rates  of  wages  and  those  that 
])revailed  in  1878  is  about  15  per  cent.  As  to  the  conditions  of  the 
same  they  have  been  gradually  improving. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

Native  workmen  are  generally  steady  but  not  very  trustworthy ;  they 
are  generally  improvident,  while  some  of  them  are  given  to  drink.  Op- 
pressive laws,  heavy  taxation,  the  want  of  education  and  moral  instruc- 
tion, as  well  as  the  entire  absence  of  sympathy  shown  on  the  part  of 
the  Government  for  the  working  classes,  have  a  demoralizing  effect  on 
their  habits. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  which  prevails  between  employe  and  employer  in  this 
country  is,  as  a  rule,  good,  and  has  a  satisfactory  influence  on  the  pros- 
perity of  the  country. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS,   STRIKES,   ETC. 

The  laboring  population  in  this  part  of  Turkey  have  neither  trade 
unions  nor  organized  societies. 

Strikes  among  the  laboring  classes  of  this  country  are  of  rare  occur- 
rence, and  when  they  take  place  they  seldom  if  ever  succeed  for  want  of 
organization  and  capital.  Further,  as  a  rule,  the  supply  of  laborers  is 
greater  than  the  demand. 

FOOD   PURCHASES. 

Working  people  here  are  free  to  purchase  4^he  necessaries  of  life  wher- 
ever they  choose,  no  conditions  being  imposed  upon  them  in  this  re- 
spect. Laborers  in  this  country  are  generally  paid  once  a  week,  i.  e., 
on  Saturday  evenings.  The  wages  are  given  in  Turkish  coin,  accord- 
ing to  the  market  rate  of  silver  currency. 

CO- OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

There  are  no  co-operative  societies  in  existence  in  Turkey  in  Asia.. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 

The  working  people  here  are  generally  uneducated,  poor,  supersti- 
tious, and  attached  to  old  customs,  principles,  and  traditions.  With 
regard  to  the  manner  of  life  they  lead,  they  generally  seem  to  be  satis- 
fied with  what  they  possess  and  live  up  to  their  incomes.     They  live  in 

*  Twenty-seven  and  a  half  piasters  make  $1. 


276  LABOR    IN    ASIA:     SYRIA. 

small  huts  poorly  fiiruished.  Frequently  four  or  five  persous  live  to- 
gether iu  one  room.  The  food  which  most,  if  not  all,  laborers  eat  con- 
sists of  bread,  olives,  onions,  cheese,  and  oil.  Potatoes  are  expensive 
and  not  indulged  in  by  the  laboring  classes.  The  price  of  meat  varies, 
in  the  course  of  the  year,  from  10  to  20  cents  per  pound,  as  well  as  coffee, 
rice,  sugar,  milk,  &c.,  which  are  only  used  as  a  treat  on  Sundays  and 
special  holidays  or  feast  days.  The  usual  dress  worn  by  the  working 
people  is  made  of  Manchester  cotton  goods  or  native  stuffs.  As  long  as 
they  are  left  without  instruction,  burdened  with  heavy  taxes,  and  op- 
pressed by  the  wealthy  they  can  have  no  chances  for  bettering  their 
condition.  The  wages  of  the  working  classes  in  this  country  being  gen- 
erally low,  very  few  laborers  are  able  to  lay  up  anything  for  old  age  or 
sickness.  The  moral  condition  of  the  working  people  of  the  country 
and  Bedouins  will  compare  in  some  respects  very  favorably  with  more 
civilized  countries.     Their  physical  condition  is,  on  the  whole,  good. 

The  intluences  for  evil  surrounding  workmen  in  this  countr3'  are  grog- 
shops, where  "arak,"  native  spirits,  and  other  bad,  intoxicating  liquors 
are  sold.  There  are  no  libraries,  museums,  gynasiums,  or  other  moral 
entertainments  to  amuse  or  instruct  the  working  people  here.  In  many 
of  the  towns  and  villages  there  are  missionary  schools,  where  services 
are  held  on  Sundays  and  Sunday-schools  taught  in  the  afternoon,  which 
are  attended  by  a  considerable  number  of  the  Christian  working  people, 
but  not  by  the  Mussulmans. 

SAFETY   OF  EMPLOYES. 

No  special  means  are  furnished  for  the  safety  of  employes  iu  factories, 
&c.,  in  this  country,  nor  are  any  provisions  made  for  them  in  case  of 
accident.  Little,  if  any,  consideration  is  given  by  the  employers  to  the 
moral  and  physical  well-being  of  the  employ6s.  As  to  the  relations 
prevailing  between  the  emjiloyer  and  the  employed  they  are  generally 
amicable  and  satisfactory. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

Workmen  neither  vote  nor  exercise  any  political  rights  iu  this  coun- 
try. The  wealthy  classes  elect  the  few  officers  that  are  not  appointed 
by  the  Porte  or  the  governor  of  the  province.  The  working  people  pay 
about  20  per  cent,  of  the  taxes.  The  tendency  of  the  law  as  carried  out 
in  this  country  is  to  oppress  the  working  people.  There  seems  to  be 
little  hope  of  relief  for  them  from  any  source. 

EMIGRATION. 

The  causes  that  lead  to  emigration  are  the  want  of  more  liberty  and 
heavy  taxation. 

NUMBER   OF   FEMALE   EMPLOYES. 

The  number  of  women  and  children  employed  in  this  district  in  in- 
dustrial pursuits  may  be  estimated  as  follows  : 

Manufacturing,  12,000 ;  teachers,  2,000 ;  laundresses,  900 ;  professional 
musicians,  800 ;  agricidtnral,  3,000  ;  all  other  pursuits,  3,000. 

Women  are  not  engaged  in  this  country  in  any  public  profession  ex- 
cei>t  in  the  above  mentioned. 

FEMALE   WAGES. 

Female  adults  are  paid  as  follows,  i)er  week,  from  seven  to  eleven 
hours  a  day : 
Minimum,  48  cjntsj  maximum,  $S',  average,  $2. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SYRIA.  277 

HOURS   OF   LABOR. 

Wherever  women  are  engaged  with  men  in  the  same  work  they  work 
the  same  nnmber  of  hours,  i.  e.,  from  seven  to  eleven  liours  a  day. 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL   CONDITION. 

The  moral  condition  of  women  here  will  compare  favorably  with  those 
of  other  countries.  From  best  information,  the  number  of  illegitimate 
chiklren  born  in  this  country  will  not  amount  to  more  than  2  per  cent, 
of  the  whole  population  ;  but  in  an  educational  point  there  is  much  to 
be  desired.  With  regard  to  the  physical  condition  of  the  working  classes 
of  women  it  is  unsatisfactory,  as  little,  if  any,  attention  is  given  to  their 
physical  welfare ;  further,  man}-  of  the  girls  employed  in  factories  fall 
victims  to  long  hours  and  bad  ventilation  of  the  factories. 

niPROVEMENT   OF   FEMALE   LABORERS. 

No  means  are  jirovided  by  the  manufacturers  for  the  improvement  of 
their  employes.  The  moral  and  educational  imin'ovement  of  the  coun- 
try is  provided  almost  entirelj'  by  foreign  missionaries. 

SAFETY   OF   FEMALE   EMPLOYES. 

No  special  means  are  provided  in  case  of  fire  or  other  dangers  for 
their  safety,  but  fires  are  here  of  rare  occurrence. 

There  are  no  provisions  made  by  the  employers  regarding  the  sani- 
tary condition  of  their  employes.  In  case  of  sickness  the  employes  have 
to  return  to  their  huts;  in  many  instances  sick  girls  and  women  are 
sent  to  tlie  missionary  or  charitable  hospitals  in  town. 

During  the  past  five  years  an  increase  of  about  10  per  cent,  has  taken 
place  in  the  wages  paid  to  women,  as  well  as  in  the  price  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life.     The  effect  is  insignificant. 

The  women  employed  in  the  factories  are  not  educated,  and  there  is 
little  attempt  to  educate  the  children  of  women  so  employed;  but  in 
some  seasons  of  the  year  some  of  these  children  employed  in  factories 
attend  mission  schools. 

In  collecting  reliable  statistics  for  this  report  I  found  the  same 
difficulty  as  when  trying  to  get  reliable  information  on  the  com- 
mercial and  manufacturing  resources  of  the  country.  In  each  class  of 
labor  I  have  had  to  make -personal  inquiry,  as  no  statistics  can  be  ob- 
tained. In  many  instances  the  people  would  not  answer  questions  re- 
garding the  wages  received  or  cost  of  living.  The  answer  they  give  is, 
why  do  you  want  such  information,  and  what  do  you  want  to  make  such 
report,  for ! 

JOHN  T.  ROBESON, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Beirut,  July  8,  1884. 


278 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SYRIA. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  d wen  hours  in  Beirut. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

$2  30 
2  88 

1  20 

2  88 
1  20 

3  60 

1  70 

3  84 

2  50 
2  40 

96 

48 
5  00 

96 
2  40 

72 

2  20 
76 

1  20 
24 

4  80 

3  60 
1  20 

48 

48 

1  20 

48 

48 

1  00 

50 

1  20 

1  92 

72 

24 

1  20 

3  80 

3  40 

1  92 

$4  70 
6  00 
1  92 
4  80 

1  92 
10  00 

2  50 
6  00 

3  50 

4  80 

1  92 
3  36 
9  00 
1  92 

6  00 
1  44 

3  30 
1  92 
1  92 

1  92 

7  00 

4  80 

2  40 
2  40 
2  64 

2  40 

1  44 
4  32 

3  50 

2  50 

4  80 

4  80 
2  40 
2  6t 
2  40 

5  00 
4  80 
2  68 

$4  on 

4  80 

1  68 

3  12 

1  68 

5  50 

2  00 

4  32 

3  00 

4  08 

OTHEK  TRADES. 

1  44 

1  20 

6  50 

1  44 

4  80 

1  20 

2  30 

1  44 

1  44 

1  20 

5  70 

4  20 

1  92 

1  44 

1  68 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Potters               .     

1  68 
96 

2  16 

2  00 

1  50 

3  36 

2  88 

1  92 

1  30 

1  75 

4  40 

Muleteers  (man  and  mnle) 

2  40 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  iceeJc  of  seventy-seven  hours  in  factories  or  mills  in  the  United  States  con- 
sular district  of  Beirut,  Asia,  Turkey. 


Occupations. 


SILK  FACTORIES. 

Inspector 

Pireiuan 

Cocoons-mover 

Spinner  (boy  or  girl) 

Cocoons-cleaner 

PAPER-IIILL. 

Machinist 

Fireman 

Cylinder  inspector 

Paper  cutter 

Bleacher 

Kags  and  rope  cutter 

Cyfinder  workman 

Assistant  machinist 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$3  70 

$4  60 

$4  10 

1  50 

4  60 

3  00 

95 

1  90 

1  40 

48 

1  56 

1  00 

24 

74 

49 

3  50 

9  00 

6  00 

1  00 

4  20 

2  60 

1  00 

3  20 

2  00 

1  30 

2  50 

1  85 

1  20 
1  50 

2  50 
1  90 

1  80 

1  66 

1  50 

1  80 

1  60 

50 

1  90 

1  20 

LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SYRIA. 


279 


VI.  Carriage  roads. 

Wages  jxi id  per  month  to  employes  on  Ottomati  Carriaijf  Road  Company  between  Beirut  and 
Damascus  in  the  Beirut  consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.     Highest. .  Average. 


Director I  $172  00 

Comptroller 75  00 

Head  saddler 25  00 

Clerk 20  66 

Head  uoachman  (conductor)* 18  58 

Station  otlicer 1  16  00 

Coachman. 12  80 

Farrier 12  80 

Saddler l  10  33 

Toll-collector |  10  33 

Carman  I  10  00 


$206  00 

$183  00 

103  00 

89  00 

56  00 

40  00 

41  33 

25  00 

24  83 

20  66 

18  58 

15  50 

U  40 

13  40 

20  66 

15  50 

12  80 

12  00 

12  80 

11  15 

♦Fixed. 

Note. — The  Ottouian  Eoad  Company  own  and  control  the  wagon  road  from  Beirut  to  Damascus, 
crossint;  the  Lebanon  and  Anti-Lebanon  Mountains,  112  kilometers  in  len^^th.  By  this  road  65  percent, 
of  the  jroods  transj)orted  between  the  said  cities  are  carried  aiid  the  foresroinj;  table  shows  the  wages 
paid  to  the  employes  of  said  Ottoman  Road  Company.  Tlie  said  company  is  owned  and  controlled  by 
Frenchmeu. 

VIII.  Xative  seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen,  coast  and  river  navigation,  in  the  ports  of  Beirut,  Haifa, 

and  other  Syrian  ports. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Captain  of  sailing  (coast)  vessels 

$13  00 

$25  50 

$19  00 

Seamen 
Lightermen 
Boatmen 


9  00 
5  50 
5  00 


15  00 
7  00 
6  80 


11  50 
6  00 
5  50 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-four  hours  in  banks  and  retail  dry-goods  stores  to  males  in  the 

consular  district  of  Beirut. 


Occupations. 


Bank  comptroller  and  cashier 

Bank  clerk 

Book-keepers 

Salesmen 

Helpers 


Lowest. 


$24  00 
4  00 
3  00 
2  50 
1  00 


Highest.  Average 


$42  00 
19  00 
12  00 
6  00 
3  20 


$33  00 
12  00 
6  50 
4  15 
2  00 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to   household  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  the  Beirut  consular  dis- 
trict. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

$4  50 
4  50 
1  00 

Highest. 

Average. 

Cook 

$12  00 
6  00 
4  30 

$8  00 

Nurse 

5  00 

2  55 

280 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SYRIA. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 


Wages  paid  per  cJay  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (countrt/)  serm.)its  in  the  Beirut 
consular  district,  ivithout  board. 


Occupations. 


Farmer  .. 
Gi  after. . . 
Keappr  . . 
Plowman 
Shepherd 


LoTrest. 


$0  32 
25 
18 
30 
12 


Highest. 


$0  60 
50 
38 
45 


Average. 


$0  40 
35 
23 
33 
15 


XII.   CORPORATIOISr  EMPLOYES. 

Wages  paid  per  weelc  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Beirut, 


Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

Occupations. 

Average 
wages. 

$36  00 
]9  60 
18  57 
IS  57 

$6  20 

Contract  notary  of  municipality 

Chief  police  of  municipality 

6  20 

Doctor  of  municipality 

6  20 
3  25 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month,  seven  hours  a  day,  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and 
offices — exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers — in  the  j^^'ovinces  of  Syria,  Aleppo,  and 
Adana. 


Occupations. 


Class  I. 


"Wali  (governor-general) $1, 118  00 

Mntasarrif  (governor) 1      447  00 

Judge  (cadi) 225  00 

Attomev-Keneral 179  00 

Comptroller 112  00 

-    -    -  156  00 

100  00 
76  00 
78  00 
67  00 
33  00 
67  00 
65  00 


President  of  court. 
Kaimmakam  (deputy  governor) . 

Assistant  attorney 

Chief  clerk 

Chief  of  police 

Mudir  (director) 

Member  of  court 

Clerk  


Inquirer 

Officer  of  police  . 

Policeman 

Jailer 


44  00 
18  00 
15  00 
11  00 


Class  n. 


$800  00 

330  00 

120  00 

130  00 

90  00 

88  00 

80  00 

70  00 

46  00 

44  00 

27  00 

39  00 

35  00 

30  00 

14  00 


Class  III. 


$559  00 
266  00 
35  00 
100  00 
67  00 
22  00 
56  00 
62  00 
13  00 
22  00 
18  00 
11  00 
10  50 
13  50 
10  00 


00 


4  50 


Turkish  military  service — pay  of  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  and  privates,  per  month, 
independent  of  rations,  in  the  Beirut  consular  district. 


Occupations. 


Average 
wages. 


Marshal  (mushir) |    $637  00 

255  00 
170  00 
85  00 
54  00 
51  00 
42  00 
32  00 
32  00 
17  00 
17  00 
14  00 


Full  general 

Lieutenant-general 

Major-general 

Brigadier-general 

Military  doctor 

Colonel  (binbashi) 

Lieutenant-colonel  (kol  aghari). 

Chaplain  (imam) 

Apothecary 

Arms  repairer 

Major 


Color-bearer 

Adjutant 

Quartermaster. . 
Sergeant-major  . 
First  sergeant . . 
Second  sergeant 

Chief  larrier 

Assistant  f.irrier 

Saddler 

Corporal 

Chief  fifer 

Fifer 


$14  00 
10  70 
10  00 
8  00 
2  50 
2  00 
2  50 
1  80 
1  80 
1  42 
1  23 
1  00 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE.  281 

Wages  paid  to  the  Beirut  custom-house  employes,  iter  week,  for  seven  hours  ivoric  a  day. 


Occnpatioos. 


Lowest.     Highest.  I  Average. 


Chief  collector  (nazer). 

Director  (niudir) 

Assessor 


Chief  clerk 

Cashier  and  treasurer 

^Vei;;hter 

Clerks 

Seaichera 

Chief  jruardian 

Guardian 


$2  50 
2  80 
2  80 


55  00 
4  60 
4  60 


$61  00 
20  00 
12  00 
12  00 
9  00 
3  00 
3  00 

3  00 

4  00 
1  40 


XIV.  Government  telegraph  offices. 

Wages  paid  paid  by  the  week,  of  seventy-two  hours,  to  the  telegraph  employe's  iu  Government 
employ  in  the  consular  district  of  Beirut. 


Occupations. 


Chief  director |  $12  50 

Inspector 12  00 

Assistant  director 8  00 

Assistant  inspector '  7  80 

Chief  operator.  eniploy6  6  43 

Operator,  employe  |  3  21 

Wire  repairer 1  2  00 

Janitor  and  message  boy i  1  00 


Highest.  !  Average. 


$23  00 

$17  50 

18  50  1 

15  15 

10  00  1 

8  75 

9  80  j 

8  50 

7  50  ■ 

6  96 

4  75  ; 

4  00 

3  00  i 

2  50 

1  50 

1  25 

XY.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

Statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty -four  hours  to  printers  (compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  4'^.)  in  the  consular  district  of  Beirut. 


Occupations. 


Proof-read  srs  and  revisers 

Compositors 

Enixineor 

Printers 

Book-collectors 

Book-seamstresses 


Lowe.st. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$3  00 

$8  00 

$5  00 

2  50 

6  00 

4  22 

3  00 

5  00 

3  70 

2  73 

3  45 

3  00 

1  00 

2  00 

1  30 

80 

1  90 

1  30 

PALESTINE. 

REPOnr  BY  CONSUL  MERRILL,  OF  JERUSALEM. 

Ill  answer  to  the  circular  from  the  Department  of  State,  dated  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1884,  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following-  rei^ort  on  the 
condition  of  labor  and  the  laboring  cla.s.ses  in  Palestine  : 


difficulties   under   which   the   report    l!^   MADE. 

It  is  hardly  po.ssible  to  exaggerate  the  difficulties  under  which  such 
a  report  as  that  required  by  the  Department  of  State  in  its  labor  cir- 
cular of  Felnuary  15,  1884,  is  made  in  Palestine. 

The  Turkish  (Jovernment  takes  almost  no  interest  in  anything. which 
might  concern  the  welfare  of  its  subjects.     Instead  of  a  happy  and 


282  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE. 

prosperous  people,  one  sees  on  ever}"  liaud  oppression  and  suifering, 
ignorance  and  degradation. 

^o  statistics  of  any  kind  are  kept,  Uence  tlie  consul  must  first  collect 
and  collate  his  facts,  which  in  a  more  advanced  country  would  exist 
ready  to  his  hand,  before  a  report  on  any  subject  can  be  made.  After 
all  the  trouble  and  time  that  I  have  expended  in  getting  materials  for 
this  report,  I  feel  that  I  have  only  the  most  meager  results  to  offer  to 
the  Department.  In  reality  it  seems  to  me  that  any  results  and  facts 
which  I  am  able  to  present  will  serve  much  more  as  a  matter  of  curiosity 
than  for  auj'  purposes  of  comparison  with  anything  that  exists  in 
America. 

NO   BASIS    OF     COMPARISON   BETWEEN    PALESTINE    AND    THE    UNITED 

STATES. 

There  is  between  the  two  countries  no  common  basis  of  comparison, 
as  will  readily  be  seen  by  such  facts  as  the  following: 

1.  Everything  here  is  of  the  most  primitive  character  and  on  the 
smallest  scale,  while  in  the  United  States  everything  is  modern  and 
costly  and  on  the  grandest  scale. 

2.  No  one  here  works  by  the  week.  In  fact,  so  far  as  the  Mohamme- 
dan portion  of  the  inhabitants  is  concerned,  there  is  no  distinction  of 
weeks  in  the  matter  of  labor.  The  Mohammedan  laborer  observes  no 
day  of  rest  unless  he  is  employed  by  a  Jew  or  a  Christian.  Most  labor 
here  is  done  by  the  day  or  by  the  job. 

3.  There  is  no  rule  about  the  number  of  hours  which  constitute  a 
day's  work.  The  apparent  rule  is  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  yet  the  laborer 
often  begins  his  work  long  before  sunrise  and  leaves  o&  before  sunset, 
or  continues  working  after  sunset,  as  the  particular  circumstances  de- 
maud. 

4.  There  is  no  very  marked  distinction  between  emploj'ers  as  a  class 
and  laborers  as  a  class,  because  of  the  fact  that  nine  tenths  of  all  la- 
borers are  in  some  way  for  themselves.  A  man  may  be  absolutely  for 
himself,  he  maj^  combine  with  others  and  each  have  a  certain  share  in 
the  profits,  or  he  may  give  his  labor  as  an  offset  to  that  of  another  man 
who  does  an  entirely  different  kind  of  work. 

5.  Hardly  any  kind  of  labor  continues  throughout  the  year;  this  af- 
fects the  living  and  the  habits  of  the  ])eople  in  a  very  marked  manner. 

6.  Large  numbers  of  trades  and  kinds  of  occupation  that  are  well 
known  in  America  do  not  exist  here,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  there  are 
a  few  trades  and  kinds  of  occui^ations  common  in  Palestine  that  are 
not  known  in  America. 

7.  There  are  here  no  settled  rules  about  paid  labor.  Every  workman 
asks  at  first  a  very  high  price  and  in  the  end  takes  what  he  can  get,  it 
may  be  only  a  fraction  of  what  he  at  first  demanded. 

8.  Furthermore,  there  are  here  no  fixed  values  either  of  anything 
that  is -sold  in  the  sliops  or  of  any  article  of  produce  that  is  raised  in 
the  country  and  brought  to  the  towns  for  sale.  (There  are  two  or  three 
shops  kept  by  Europeans  to  which  the  first  part  of  this  remark  does 
not  apply,  but  these  are  the  only  exceptions.)  Every  person  asks 
about  double  what  he  actually  gets  at  last  for  his  goods,  provided  he 
makes  a  sale.  The  people  of  the  country  do  not  seem  to  have  any 
well-defined  ideas  about  values;  they  know  in  a  general  way  that  20 
cents  will  buy  more  than  10  cents,  but  of  intrinsic  values  they  know 
nothing. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE.  283 

CHARACTER   OF   JERUSALEM   AND    ITS   INHABITANTS. 

The  population  of  Jerusalem  is  reuiarkable  as  being  composed  of 
Mohammedans,  Jews,  native  Christians,  and  Europeans.  Of  the  40,000 
inhabitants  of  the  city,  one  fourth  are  Christians  (inchiding  the  Euro- 
peans), one-fourtli  are  Mohammedans,  and  one-half  are  Jews,  who  num- 
ber not  far  from  -0,000  souls.  The  houses  are  built  of  stone,  the  looms 
in  them  are  small  and  poorly  lighted,  the  streets  are  narrow  and  filthy, 
and  the  i)eople  crowd  together  in  stilled  apartments  where  all  sanitary 
laws  are  set  at  defiance. 

The  present  city  is  built  upon  the  ruins  of  ancient  Jerusalem,  or 
rather  upon  the  ruins  of  many  ancient  cities,  since  the  city  has  under- 
gone uo  less  than  twenty-six  sieges,  in  several  of  which  it  has  been  re- 
duced to  a  heap  of  ruins.  The  Jerusalem  of  two  thousand  or  tliree 
thousand  years  ago,  lies  in  some  i^laces  at  a  depth  of  10  feet,  in  other 
places  at  not  less  than  1)0  feet,  below  the  present  surface  of  the  ground. 
The  Jerusalem  of  today  is  i:)oorly  built,  and  the  inhabitants  are  for  the 
most  part  poor  and  wretched.  Formerly  there  were  among  the  natives 
a  large  number  of  wealthy  families,  while  today  there  are  very  few, 
their  wealth  having  been  dissipated  by  the  peculiar  social  and  political 
circumstances  of  modern  times. 

PEOPLE   SUPPORTED   BY   CHARITY. 

JSTearly  all  the  Jews  of  Jerusalem  receive  charity,  while  two-thirds  of 
them  depend  mainly  upon  these  funds,  which  come  mostly  from  Europe, 
for  their  support.  With  many  of  the  Jews  the  struggle  for  life — for  a 
daily  pittance  of  bread — is  a  hard  one.  In  spite  of  the  large  sums  that 
are  annually  distributed  among  the  Jews  of  Jerusalem,  itcaunot  be  shown 
that  their  condition  is  thereby  materially  bettered  year  by  year.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  would  be  easy  to  show  how  this  so-called  charity  is  a 
curse  rather  than  a  blessing,  chietly  because  it  puts  self-reliance  at  a 
discount  and  fosters  Idleness. 

Among  the  Greeks  (meaning  those  who  are  of  the  Greek  religion) 
we  find  some  wealth  but  a  great  deal  of  poverty,  and  the  same  is  true 
of  the  Latins  or  Roman  Catholics.  The  Greek  and  Latin  convents  are 
large  owners  of  property  in  the  shape  of  gems,  jewels,  and  treasures 
stored  away  in  the  churches  and  convents,  and  also  in  houses  and  lauds 
in  and  around  Jerusalem.  Both  the  Greek  and  Latin  convents  give  to 
every  family  in  their  special  communions  a  house  fi'ee  of  rent.  It  is  a 
common  i>ractice  for  a  Greek,  if  heowus  a  house,  to  rent  it  to  a  Moham- 
medan, a  Jew,  or  a  Protestant,  and  get  for  himself  a  house  free  of  rent 
from  the  convent.  Each  convent  has  likewise  a  large  flouring  mill  and 
a  bread-making  establishment,  and  they  furnish  bread  gratis  to  every 
family  twice  a  week.  It  is  not  probable,  from  all  the  data  that  I  am 
able  to  collect,  that  there  are  fifty  Cliristian  families  (and  this  number, 
of  course,  includes  the  native  Protestants,  but  does  not  include  the 
Euro])eans)  in  Jerusalem,  who  pay  house  rent. 

It  will  be  seen  that  neither  Greeks,  Latins,  nor  Jews  are  self-support- 
ing. Were  the  aid  which  they  receive  from  outside  to  be  cut  off  sud- 
denly they  would  perish  Irom  starvation.  Greeks,  Latins,  and  Jews 
are  here  for  religious  purposes.  They  wish  to  devote  themselves  to  re- 
ligion and  meantime  to  lean  on  someone  beside  themselves  for  support. 
This  state  of  things  is  just  the  opposite  of  what  it  should  be.  The  cur- 
rent now  indicated  is  so  strong  that  the  native  Arabs  or  Mohammedans 
have  been  largely  affected  by  it,  and  they  likewise  find  idleness  more 


284  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE. 

pleasurable  than  labor,  consequei.tly  tbey  are  consuming  whatever  they 
may  have  inherited  from  their  fathers,  and  they  lack  both  the  enter- 
prise and  the  disposition  to  accumulate  anything  either  for  themselves 
in  their  old  age  or  for  their  posterity. 

OBSERVATIONS   ON   THE  DEPARTMENT  BLANK  FORMS. 

With  regard  to  the  blank  forms  furnished  by  the  Department,  I  have 
retained  those  from  II  to  XV,  since  under  only  four  of  those  fourteen 
difierent  heads  could  I  make  any  entries,  and  the  scanty  information 
which  I  might  give  under  those  four  heads  is  incorporated  in  my  gen- 
eral report  or  in  the  list  of  "general  trades,"  which  accomi)anies  it. 

OBSERVATIONS   ON   THE   DEPARTMENT'S    LIST    OF    GENERAL    TRADES. 

Some  miscellaueous  observations  are  necessary  with  regard  to  the  list 
of  "general  trades"  that  has  been  furnished  by  the  Department. 

Although  there  is  no  absolute  rule  in  the  matter,  I  consider  that  twelve 
hours  in  twenty-four  is  about  the  time  that  a  laborer  is  expected  to  de- 
vote every  day  to  his  work. 

I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  draw  a  line  through  such  of  the  trade  men- 
tioned in  the  list  as  do  not  exist  in  Palestine.  Among  these,  for  exam- 
ple, I  have  thus  marked  out  "cabinet-makers"  for  the  reason  that  no 
such  class  is  known  here  in  distinction  from  "  carpenters." 

In  like  manner  there  is  no  distinction  between  "  tenders  "  of  masons, 
"  tenders"  of  plasterers,  and  "hod-carriers,"  who  in  America  have  to  do 
chiefly  or  exclusively  with  brick-layers. 

Under  the  head  of  "  drivers  "  only  one  class  is  known  here,  namely, 
those,  who  drive  the  so-called  "  carriages  "  corresponding  to  our  lumber 
or  farm  wagons,  which  pass  between  Jerusalem  and  Jalfa. 

I  have  been  obliged  to  make  a  distinction  between  the  wages  received 
bj'  the  natives  of  the  country  and  those  received  by  Jews.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  notice  that  of  thirty-three  different  trades  mentioned,  the 
Jews  engage  in  twenty-two,  that  is,  in  two-thirds  only,  and  of  these 
twenty-two  trades  they  receive  wages  equal  to  the  Arabs  in  thirteen, 
while  in  the  remaining  nine  they  receive  less  than  the  Arabs. 

VERY  FEW   STEADY  EMPLOYMENTS. 

While  all  the  trades  are  uncertain  as  to  the  income  to  be  derived  from 
them,  some  are  far  more  precarious  in  this  respect  than  others.  For 
instance,  "  porters  "  I  have  put  down  as  earning  $2.40  per  week.  This 
means,  of  course,  if  they  have  continuous  work.  There  is  a  large  num- 
ber of  this  class  and  the  work  is  hard.  One  of  these  men  will  carry  a 
heavy  box  half  across  the  city,  take  it  upstairs  beside,  if  need  be,  for 
6  cents,  and  be  occupied  in  doing  this  thirty  minutes  or  one  hour.  If 
he  is  fortunate  he  may  ])ick  up  Ave  or  six  such  Jobs  during  the  day. 
One  day  he  \^ill  earn  half  a  dollar,  perhaps,  and  then  for  one,  two,  or 
three  days  he  may  not  earn  a  cent. 

Similar  remarks  apply  to  the  boatmen  at  Jaffa.  Their  life  is  one  of 
danger  and  hardship,  and  their  income  is  very  uncertain. 

Again,  barbers,  in  order  to  eke  out  their  precarious  livelihood,  take 
up  dentistry  as  a  branch  of  their  business.  There  being  no  proper 
dentists  in  the  city,  the  barbers  are  the  dentists,  or  rather,  since  they 
never  (ill  teeth,  they  are  the  teeth-pullers  (literally  jaw-breakers)  of 
Jerusalem.  Barbers  also  keep  leeches  for  sale,  and  bleed  people  when 
they  imagine  they  need  it. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE.  285 

DIFFICULTY   OF   AKRIYING  AT    "AVERAGE   WAGES." 

lu  four  ouly  of  the  trades  mentioned  have  I  been  able  to  obtain  a 
middle  late  of  wages,  consequently  it  is  much  more  difficult  to  arrive  at 
what  maj' be  called  the  "  averaj^e  wages"  of  a  working-man.  But  I 
arrive  at  it  apj)roximately  in  this  manner:  Considering  that  the  ma- 
jority of  laborers  receive  the  lowest  rate  of  wages  mentioned  in  the 
schedule,  wliile  only  a  very  few  receive  the  higher,  it  is  sufficiently  cor- 
rect to  say  that  where  one  man  receives  60  cents  a  day,  or  $3.00  per 
week,  four  others  will  receive  each  40  cents  a  day,  or  S^.40  per  week; 
hence — 

Four  men  at  S2.4U  per  week $;9  60 

Oue  man  at  §3.60  per  week '.i  60 


13  20 


This  amount  divided  by  five  gives  $2.64  as  the  average  i)er  week. 
The  above  computation  is  in  the  case  of  blacksmiths. 

lu  tlie  case  of  Jew  Macksmiths — 

Four  men  receive  Bl.'J2  per  week $7  68 

Oue  man  receives  ^2.40  per  week 2  40 


10  OS 

This  amount  divided  by  o  give  $2.01f  per  week. 

It  may  be  put  down  as  a  rule  that  where  one  man  receives  the  larger 
wages  mentioned  in  the  schedule  four  men  will  receive  the  smaller 
"wages.  To  this  there  are  important  exceptions,  for  in  some  cases  where 
one  man  receives  the  larger  wages  nineteen  others  will  receive  the 
smaller  wages. 

COST    OF   LIVING. 

Daily  ex])ense  of  living  of  a  laboring  man  who  receives  40  cents  a 
day,  or  82.40  i)er  week  :  Bread,  10  cents  ;  olive  oil,  2  cents  ;  vegetables, 
2  cents  ;  olives  or  cheese,  2  cents;  total,  16  cents. 

Daily  expense  of  living  for  a  family  of  five  persons — a  man,  his  wife, 
and  three  children — where  the  man  earns  40  cents  a  day,  or  $2.40  per 
week:  Bretul,  16  cents;  oil,  4 cents;  lentils,  Scents;  vegetables,  8  cents; 
charcoal,  4  cents;  total,  40  cents. 

Daily  expense  of  living  for  a  common  farm  laborer  who  receives  24 
cents  a  day,  or  $1.44  per  week  :  Bread,  8  cents  ;  oil  or  olives,  4  cents; 
onions,  2  cents;  total,  14  cents. 

Daily  expense  of  living  for  the  family  of  a  common  farm  laborer,  con- 
sisting of  himself,  his  wife,  and  two  children,  who  receives  24  cents  a 
day,  or  $1.44  per  week :  Bread,  16  cents ;  oil  or  olives,  8  cents ;  onions,  4 
cents ;  total,  28  cents. 

Daily  expense  of  living  of  a  laboring  man,  if  he  is  a  Jew,  who  re- 
ceives 40  cents  a  day,  or  $2.40  i)er  week :  Bread,  5  cents  ;  vegetables,  6 
cents ;  coffee,  sugar,  tea,  salt,  and  pepper,  6  cents ;  total,  17  cents. 

The  daily  expense  of  living  for  a  Jewish  family  of  five  persons — a 
man,  his  wife,  and  three  children — where  the  man  receives  40  cents  a 
day,  or  $2.40  per  week,  would  be  40  cents  a  du.v  or  $2.80  per  week 
solely  for  food;  and  for  their  yearly  expenses  they  would  require:  For 
food,  $145.60;  lor  rent,  822  ;  for  clothing,  825;  total,  8192.60. 

Incase  of  a  common  farm  laborer,  his  wife  and  chiklren,  if  the  latter 
are  old  enough,  labor  in  the  field  as  well  as  himself. 

While  the  figures  show  what  a  common  Jewish  family  requires  yearly 
for  their  support,  it  should  be  said  that  very  few  families  have  that 


286  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE. 

amount  to  spend.  Probably  they  do  not  have  even  $100  for  their  entire 
expenses,  per  annum. 

in  regard  to  all  these  classes,  so  far  as  food  is  concerned,  they  must 
live  on  less  than  they  earn,  else  they  could  not  pay  for  rent  and  clothing- 
in  the  towns,  or  provide  farm  implements  and  clothing  for  themselves  on 
a  farm. 

As  to  the  laborer  who  receives  40  cents  a  day  and  spends,  according 
to  our  reckoning,  10  cents  a  day  for  food,  it  will  be  asked  if  he  does  not 
lay  up  something;  it  is  almost  certain  that  he  lays  up  nothing  or  at 
best  but  very  little.  ^Ye  must  remember  that  he  has  work  but  about 
half  or  two-thirds  of  the  time.  This  reduces  the  surplus  to  nothing,  es- 
pecially where  they  have  no  habits  of  economy  and  never  think  of  lay- 
ing up  anything  for  the  future. 

These  people  have  the  habit  of  spending  all  they  get  whether  it  be 
little  or  much.  If  they  receive  large  wages  they  consume  them  all,  and 
if  they  receive  next  to  nothing  they  manage  to  live  on  that. 

Those  who  receive  larger  wages  than  those  indicated  above  are  able 
to  live  slightly  better,  but  ouly  slightly  after  all.  They  are  able  to  add 
rice  to  the  variety  of  their  food,  and  also  meat  once  a  week,  or  it  may 
be  three  times  in  a  fortnight.  The  staple  articles  of  food  of  all  the  la- 
boring classes,  and  of  the  large  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  country, 
are  bread,  oil  or  olives,  leben  or  cheese,  rice,  aud  vegetables.  Under  the 
head  of  vegetables  they  have  onions,  garlic,  watermelons,  two  kinds 
of  cucumbers,  kusa,  egg-plant,  and  grapes. 

HOURS   OF  DAILY  LABOR   ON   A   FARM. 

AVith  regard  to  the  number  of  hours  which  constitute  a  day's  work  it 
may  be  said  that  farm  laborers  start  before  it  is  light  so  as  to  reach  the 
field  by  daybreak.  In  the  harvest  fields  women  and  children  labor 
equally  with  the  men.  They  start  thus  early  because  the  wheat  or 
barley  must  be  cut  while  the  dew  is  upon  it.  After  about  10  o'clock  the 
grain  becomes  so  dry  that  it  falls  from  the  head  if  an  attempt  is  made 
to  cut  it.  The  laborers  lie  off  until  near  sunset  when  they  commence 
again. 

HOUSE   SERVANTS  AND   NURSES. 

As  to  house  servants  it  must  be  remembered  that  there  is  a  consider- 
able class  here  who  have  been  held  as  slaves.  They  are  black  people 
from  Nubia,  and  having  been  brought  up  as  slaves  aud  knowing  no 
other  kind  of  life,  they,  in  many  cases,  remain  with  their  old  masters. 
Practically,  some  of  them  are  still  slaves,  although  they  are  not  bought 
aud  sold  ;  such  persons  get  nothing  besides  their  clothing,  shelter,  and 
food.  There  are  likewise  numbers  of  native  servants  who  in  a  sense 
belong  to  the  families  with  whom  they  live,  who  get  little  besides  their 
clothing,  shelter,  aud  food,  but  are  free  to  go  when  they  choose.  A 
good  native  servant  will  receive  50  cents  a  week  aud  her  food.  A  good 
European  servant-girl — this  class  are  mostly  Germans — receives  75  cents 
or  $i  a  week  aud  her  food,  while  a  German  man-servant  will  receive 
$1.50  per  week  and  his  food.  Germans  are  employed,  it  need  hardly 
be  said,  only  in  hotels  and  in  European  families.  A  native  woman  who 
is  employed  as  a  nurse  receives  $1.50  per  week. 

LARGE  CLASSES  DEPENDENT  UPON  TRAVELERS. 

People  who  are  not  familiar  with  this  country'  can  hardly  realize  to 
what  an  extent  the  laboring  classes  aud  trades-people  are  dependent 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE.  287 

ui>oii  travelers  for  a  larjie  part  of  tbeir  support ;  among  these  are  boat- 
men, carriage  owners  and  <lrivers,  hotel-keepers,  waiters,  cooks,  and 
servants  in  hotels,  waiters,  cooks,  servants,  muleteers,  and  others  who 
go  with  travelers  through  tlie  country;  donkey  drivers,  owuersof  horses 
and  mules,  guides,  errand-boys,  porters,  makers  and  venders  of  olive 
wood  work,  beads,  mother  of  ])earl,  and  Jerusalem  curiosities  in  gen- 
eral, shopkeepers,  dealers  in  incense,  wax  caudles,  pictures  of  saints,. 
and  other  articles  of  ''piety  ami  devotion,"  as  they  are  called,  and  still 
other  classes. 

It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  thousands  of  people  in  Jerusalem 
and  Palestine  look  to  the  traveling  season  as  their  harvest  time',  a& 
almost  the  only  time  during  the  year  Mheu  they  can  receive  any  con- 
siderable amount  of  money;  consequently,  when  this  business  is  inter- 
fered with,  as  it  was  seriously  in  1882,  because  of  the  war  in  Egypt,  and 
again  in  1883,  by  the  quarantine,  great  hardship  and  suflering  ensue. 

WAGES   PAID   BY   TOURIST   COMPANIES. 

In  general,  the  wages  paid  by  the  large  tourist  companies  are  several 
times  greater  than  what  laboring  men  ordinarily  receive  in  Palestine. 
Consideration  must  be  had  for  the  fact  that  the  traveling  season  is 
short,  lasting  but  about  three  months,  namely,  during  February,  March, 
and  April.  A  trip  through  the  country  occupies  twenty,  or  it  may 
occupy  thirty,  days,  and  those  who  are  employed  in  this  business  cannot 
expect  to  nuike  more  than  two  trips  during  a  single  season.  For  this 
and  for  other  reasons  the  wages  paid  must  be  correspondingly  high. 
See  " cooks,"  " dragomans,"  and  "waiters,"  in  the  schedule.  In  the 
traveling  season  a  horse  is  worth  $1  a  day,  and  frequently  one  cannot 
be  obtained  for  less  than  $2  a  day.  Mules  also  are  worth  during  the 
seasou  $1  or  ll.oO  per  daj',  while  donkeys  are  worth  60  cents  a  day,  in- 
cluding a  boy.  A  camel  is  worth  $1  a  day.  As  a  rule  the  owner  of  the 
animals  feeds  both  himself  and  them  unless  a  special  arrangement 
otherwise  is  made.  If  a  man  owns  two  or  three  mules  and  they  are 
hired  for  a  certain  journej^  he  goes  with  them  himself. 

EMPLOYMENT  OF  DRAGOMANS. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  dragomans  here,  those  employed  at  the  con- 
sulates and  convents,  w'ho  act  as  interpreters,  clerks,  agents,  &c.,  and 
those  whose  business  it  is  to  conduct  i)arties  of  tourists  and  travelers 
through  the  country.  It  is  only  the  latter  that  are  included  in  the 
schedule  of  "  general  trades."  They  must  know  two  or  more  languages 
well,  and  be  familiar  with  all  parts  of  the  country.  As  a  class  they  are 
superior  men  and  their  wages  are  high,  but  they  do  not  have  work  for 
a  longer  period  than  one-third  of  the  year.  It  is  doubtless  well  known 
that  travelers  do  not  visit  this  country  during  the  summer  and  autumn 
on  account  of  the  great  heat. 

GUARDS  AT   THE    CONSULATES. 

The  class  called  in  the  general  list  "  kawasses  "  are  the  guards  at  the 
consulates  and  convents.  They  are  all  Mohammedans,  and  are  loaned  to 
the  different  foreign  governments  by  the  Turkish  (jovernment.  Were 
they  not  thus  employed  they  would  be  in  the  Turkish  army,  since  they 
are  really  soldiers,  or  at  least  persons  liable  to  military  dutj'.  Count- 
ing all  the  consulates  and  their  agencies,  together  with  the  large  con- 


288  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE. 

veuts,  there  are  a  large  uuinber  of  this  chiss,  and  it  may  interest  the 
statisticians,  merchants,  and.  others  in  America  to  know  that  the  United 
States  GovernQient  pays  the  gnards  of  its  consnlate  in  Jerusalem  less 
than  any  other  Government,  the  lowest  sum  paid  by  any  other  Govern- 
ment being  $3  per  week,  while  the  highest  sum  paid  by  the  United 
States  is  $2  per  week. 

WINES   AND   LIQUORS. 

In  the  list  of  "general  trades"  distillers  are  mentioned,  and  I  have 
drawn  a  mark  through  the  word.  There  is  one  brewery  in  Jerusalem 
where  beer  of  an  inferior  quality  is  made  by  a  German.  Most  of  the 
beer  consumed  here  is  brought  from  Europe.  Large  quantities  of  wine 
are  made,  since  this  is  a  laud  of  grapes  and  vineyards.  While  there  are 
here  no  public  distilleries  large  quantities  of  liquor  are  made,  neverthe- 
less, and  drank  by  the  inhabitants.  After  the  grapes  have  been  pressed  for 
wine  the  pomace  is  subjected  to  a  certain  process  by  which  an  inferior 
quality  of  liquor  is  obtained  which  can  be  sold  at  a  very  low  j^rice. 
The  poor  here  do  not  abstain  from  driukiug,  but  manage  to  provide  a 
liquor  which  is  adapted  to  their  limited  means.  Almost  every  Jewish 
family  makes  this  poor  liquor  for  its  own  use,  and  they  consume  a  great 
deal  of  it.  It  is  called  arak,  and  if  indulged  in  is  very  injurious  to  the 
system. 

SALARIES   or   TEACHERS. 

The  wages  paid  to  teachers  in  the  schools,  including  the  Mohamme- 
dan, the  Jewish,  and  the  Christian,  will  no  doubt  attract  attention. 
The  teachers  provide  for  themselves  food,  clothing,  and  lodging.  Those 
who  receive  the  highest  sum,  namely,  $4.80  per  week,  are  the  rare  ex- 
ceptions. Probably  where  one  receives  this  amount  per  week,  nineteen 
receive  the  lower  sum,  or  $1.20  per  week. 

TELEGRAPH   OPERATORS. 

As  to  telegraph  operators  there  are  but  four  in  the  city  and  much 
of  the  time  there  are  only  three  persons  connected  with  the  ofiSce,  in- 
cluding the  director.  When  the  staff  is  full  their  wages  are,  per  week, 
respectively,  $1.50,  $3,  $4.50,  and  (for  the  director)  $15.  The  manage- 
ment of  the  telegraph  is  in  a  bad  way,  although  it  corresponds  to  every- 
thing else  in  Turkey.  Sometimes  it  takes  three  days  to  send  a  telegram 
to  Beirut  and  get  an  answer,  although  the  distance  is  only  120  miles. 
It  takes  from  three  to  live  days  to  send  a  message  to  Egypt  and  to  re- 
ceive an  answer.  The  Turks  have  never  yet  learned  to  associate 
promptness  and  speed  with  their  idea  of  the  telegraph. 

POST-OFFICE   EMPLOYES. 

In  the  Turkish  ])ost-ofiice  there  are  two  persons.  The  post-office  and 
the  telegraph  are  so  united  that  the  employes  of  the  latter  sometimes 
assist  in  distributing  the  mail.  Turkey  is  in  the  i)ostal  union,  and  in 
Euro])e  and  America  it  is  supposed  that  she  is  siilliciently  civilized  to 
deserve  to  be  thus  admitted,  but  those  Europeans  and  Americans  who 
reside  here  realize,  to  their  sorrow  often,  that  letters  in  the  Turkish 
post  are  common  i)roperty  when  they  see  them  scattered  promiscuously 
about  the  single  room  of  the  post-office  on  wihdow  ledges,  tables,  and  the 
tops  of  boxes,  on  divans,  and  on  the  floor. 


LABOR  IN  ASIA:  PALESTINE,  289 

CLEEKS  IN  STORES. 

As  to  shop  bands  or  clerks  in  stores,  it  is  not  probable  that  one  in  a 
huiulred  receives  the  larger  wages,  and  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  fix 
an  average. 

FEMALE  LABOR. 

In  its  circular  the  Department  asks  with  regard  to  female  labor.  On 
this  subject  very  little  is  to  be  said  in  addition  to  what  has  beeu  re- 
ported when  speaking  of  house  servants  and  nurses.  In  the  capacity 
of  house  servants  many  women  are  employed  at  very  moderate  wages. 
Peasant  women  labor  in  the  fields  with  the  men,  and  most  of  the  small 
produce  and  merchandise  is  brought  to  market  by  women.  They  carry 
their  burdens  on  their  heads,  and  many  of  them  come  from  a  distance 
of  ten  or  more  miles.  The  rule  is  that  any  work  that  is  considered 
menial  or  degrading  is  put  upon  the  women,  while  everything  in  the 
way  of  labor  that  is  at  all  honorable  or  respectable  is  monopolized  by 
the  men. 

CONDITIONS  WHICH  CONTROL  THE  TRADE  OF  PALESTINE. 

This  being,  as  I  have  indicated,  a  poor  city,  and  the  inhabitants  like- 
wise poor,  all  the  business  that  is  done  here  is  on  a  very  small  scale. 
Tliere  are  no  large  mercantile  establishments  of  any  kind.*^  On  the  con- 
trary, there  is  a  multitude  of  very  small  shops  6  by  8  feet  or  8  by  10 
feet  in  size.  A  shop  or  store  in  Jerusalem  that  measures  10  by  15  feet 
is  considered  large.  The  ceiling  is  low,  and  an  upstairs  apartment  is 
not  known.  In  general  the  customer  stands  in  the  street  while  he 
trades,  since  the  merchant  who  stands  or  sits  inside  needs  all  the  avail- 
able space  for  manipulating  his  yard-stick  or  his  scales. 

The  wants  of  a  half  civilized  people  like  the  natives  of  this  country, 
especially  if  they  are  poor,  are  few  and  simple.  Nor  are  the  Jews  on  any 
higher  level  than  the  natives  themselves.  In  their  own  estimation  they 
are  the  noblest  people  on  earth  and  deserve  special  consideration  from 
all  other  races;  but  in  the  eyes  of  others  who  are  competent  to  judge 
they  are  very  low  in  all  that  pertains  to  refined  life.  This  is  not  say- 
ing what  they  might  be  under  favorable  circumstances,  but  they  are 
sufiering  from  generations  of  oppression,  ignorance,  and  poverty.  They 
come  here  from  Europe,  where  their  condition  is  most  wretched,  bring- 
ing with  them  their  peculiar  habits,  and  they  are  unable  to  add  any- 
thing to  Jerusalem  except  bigotry  and  filth.  Verj^  many  of  the  small 
shops  are  kept  by  Jews,  and  some  of  the  more  fortunate  ones  are  able 
to  accuunilate  a  little  projierty. 

Whatever  goods  are  brought  here  must  be  adapted  to  the  means  of 
the  purchaser;  hence,  as  a  rule  one  can  expect  to  buy  at  these  shops  only 
inferior  articles,  secondhand  goods,  goods  purchased  in  Europe  at  auc- 
tion, baTikrupt  stocks,  prints  and  clothing  that  are  out  of  style  in  Euro- 
pean cities,  damaged  and  shop- worn  articles;  also  adulterated  wines, 
oils,  liquors,  drugs,  and  whatever  else  can  be  adulterated.  It  is  this 
class  and  quality  of  goods  that  are  brought  to  Jerusalem  and  which  one 
must  expect  to  find  in  the  shops.  The  Jews  outnumber  so  largely 
all  the  rest  of  the  population  of  the  oit^^  that  their  methods — purchas- 
ing, selling,  having  cheap,  inferior,  and  adulterated  goods,  «&c. — affect 
all  the  native  shopkeepers  in  Jerusalem.  The  eiitire  trade  of  the  caty 
is,  as  I  have  said,  adapted  to  the  ideas  and  means  of  the  purchaser. 
There  are,  fortunately,  two  or  three  European  stores  in  the  city  where 
92  a— 2  LAB 19 


290  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE. 

good  articles  can  be  bought  at  a  fixed  price.  With  regard  to  the  Jews 
it  should  be  said  that  if  they  have  property  they  put  it  into  jewels, 
with  which,  on  special  occasions  they  load  their  ])ersous.  In  this  form 
property  can  easily  be  hoarded  aud  secreted,  and  whenever  it  is  neces- 
sary to  do  so  money  can  be  raised  on  it.  They  lose  the  interest,  of 
course,  but  they  have  the  satisfaction  of  being  able  to  display  their 
wealth,  which  they  frequently  do  upon  their  necks  and  arms. 

EATE   OF   INTEREST  AND   AN  INDIFFERENT   GOVERNMENT. 

One  great  obstacle  to  theprosperity  of  this  country  (especially  is  this 
true  of  the  farmers),  is  the  scarcity  of  money.  Everybody  wants  to 
spend  more  than  he  earns.  Everybody  wants  to  use  a  little  more  mouey 
than  he  can  legitimately  command.  Hence  borrowing  money  has  be- 
come a  vice  and  a  curse,  and  many  people  in  Palestine  and  Syria  are 
irrevocably  in  debt.  The  rate  of  interest  here  is  something  frightful. 
Twelve  per  cent,  per  annum  is  a  low  rate  of  interest.  Money  will  easily 
command  30  per  cent,  per  annum.  Of  course  here,  as  elsewhere,  the 
higher  the  rates  the  greater  the  risk.  People  understand  that.  The 
peasants  or  farmers,  who  are  often  obliged  to  raise  money  in  some  way, 
even  if  they  are  ruined  by  it,  not  infrequently  pay  50  or  100  per  cent, 
for  it.  It  is  only  a  question  of  time  how  long  any  man's  capital  and 
substance  will  last  under  such  wealth-annihilating  circumstances.  So 
long  as  this  extortion  is  allowed  there  are  always  plenty  of  men  ready 
to  take  advantage  of  others,  to  furnish  money  on  their  own  terms, 
which  of  course  are  always  ruinous.  The  Government  might  help  its 
subjects  by  establishing  a  fixed  rate  of  interest.  But  the  Government 
itself  is  only  an  organized  system  of  tyranny,  oppression,  and  robbery. 
It  does  nothing  for  internal  improvements.  It  does  not  desire  that  the 
resources  of  the  country  should  be  developed,  and  prohibits  the  intro- 
duction of  any  foreign  capital  that  otherwise  would  be  brought  here 
for  that  purpose.  It  is  opposed  to  the  passing  of  any  portion  of  the 
land  of  the  Empire  into  the  hands  of  Christians  from  Europe.  In  every 
way  in  its  power,  short  of  actual  hostilities  it  opposes  the  establishing 
of  Christian  missions  and  schools.  In  a  word  it  stands  in  the  way  of 
all  progress.  It  is  then  no  wonder  that  its  subjects,  at  least  all  the 
Arab  portion  of  them,  hate  their  own  Government,  aud  secretly,  but 
most  earnestly,  desire  and  look  for  a  change.  Under  the  circumstances 
it  is  not  surprising  that  the  wealth  of  the  old  families  of  the  empire  is 
being  dissipated  ;  that  the  mass  of  the  people  are  poor  aud  ignorant, 
and  that  the  finances  of  Turkey  are  in  a  ruinous  condition. 

POOR  PROSPECT  FOR   AMERICAN  LABORERS  IN   PALESTINE. 

There  is  a  class  of  persons  in  America  who  desire  to  come  to  this 
country  to  settle.  They  are  for  the  most  part  laboring  people  of  little 
education,  aud  of  very  limited  means.  They  have  very  crude  notions 
of  Palestine,  and  do  not  consult  those  books  or  jiersons  in  America  that 
coiild  give  them  the  best  information.  Occasionally  they  write  to  the 
consul  making  inquiries,  but,  as  a  rule,  they  are  pretty  sure  not  to  fol- 
low his  advice,  especially  when  itjs  adverse  to  their  coming.  In  their 
minds  their  coming  here  is  connected  with  some  crude  religious  notions 
which  they  expect  will  be  realized  the  moment  they  have  planted  their 
feet  upon  the  soil  of  the  Holy  Land.  The  ignorant  leaders  of  these 
people  inflame  their  minds  in  many  ways,  but  especially  by  articles  in 
the  small  journals,  which  are  the  only  papers  that  are  read  by  or  that 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE. 


291 


circulate  among  these  obscure  sects.  Misrepresentatious  are  made  to 
the  effect  that  the  climate  here  is  delightful ;  that  the  earth  yields 
grain,  fruits,  and  vegetables  witli  very  little  labor  being  expended  upon 
it,  and  that  workmen  of  all  kinds  are  needed  Avho,  it  is  asserted,  would 
command  here  excelk'ut  wages.  The  names  of  such  papers  and  quota- 
tions fjom  them  could  be  given,  were  it  necessary,  to  justify  the  above 
remarks.  Last  year  one  such  family  arrived,  and  last  January  eight 
other  iudividuals  came  expecting  to  find  here  the  workingman's  par- 
adise and  the  fanatic's  heaven.  The  result  is  disappointment,  suffer- 
ing, and  sickness  for  the  deluded  j^eople  themselves,  and  embarrass- 
ment, annoyance,  and  trouble  for  the  consul.  I  do  not  know  that  the 
Government  can  prevent  their  coming  here,  as  it  prevents  the  paui>er 
classes  of  Europe  from  entering  the  United  States.  The  head  of  the 
family  referred  to  as  coming  last  year  had  only  $4  in  his  pocket  wlien 
he  arrived  in  this  city,  and  he  had  not  a  dollar  in  the  world  besides, 
that  he  could  draw  upon  for  his  support.  The  family  were  soon  re- 
duced to  terrible  straits,  and  a  few  charitable  persons  assisted  the  con- 
sul in  sending  him  back  to  America.  One  ot  those  who  came  last  Jan- 
uary was  in  our  war  with  the  Federal  troops,  and  was  in  forty  battles. 
He  has  been  twi(!e  to  my  ofliee  and  cried  like  a  child  while  begging  me 
to  send  him  home  to  Massachusetts. 

If  some  of  the  facts  which  I  have  reported,  with  regard  to  labor  in" 
this  country,  could  be  placed  before  such  people,  they  might  be  deterred 
from  coming  here.  The  trouble  is,  however,  that  they  would  believe 
their  own  religious  leaders  sooner  than  they  would  believe  the  Govern- 
ment. Palestine  is  one  of  the  poorest  countries  in  the  world  to  which 
a  laboring  man  can  go  with  the  hope  of  earning  a  living.  He  cannot 
comjjete  with  native  laborers,  who  work  for  15  cents  a  day  and  find 
their  own  food.  It  is  very  doubtful  if  he  would  be  able  to  stand  the 
climate.  Even  if  one  has  some  means,  this  is  not  a  country  where  bus- 
iness can  be  created  easily  as  it  can  be  in  America.  No  oue  should 
think  of  connng  here  unless  he  has  ample  means  to  live  upon  for  a 
period  of  years,  or  until  he  can  establish  himself  in  some  business  or 
employment  that  will  yield  him  a  living  income. 

SELAH  MEEEILL,       . 
Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Jerusalem,  July  5,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  seventy-two  hours. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Hod-carriers : 

Jews , 

Natives 

Masons : 

Jews   

Natives 

Tendens,  natives 

Plasterers : 

Jews 

Natives 

Tenners,  natives 

Carpenters  : 

Jews 

Natives 


Lowest.    Hiaheet. 


$0  72 
72 

$0  96 
1  20 

2  40 

2  88 

72 

3  60 
7  20 
1  20 

2  40 

2  88 

72 

3  60 
5  52 
1  20 

1  02 
1  92 

3  CO 

7  20 

292 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PALESTINE. 
Wae^es  paid  per  week  oj  seventy -tmo  hours — Continued. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest. 


OTHEK  TRADES. 

■Bakers: 

Jews 

Natives 

iBlacksmitlis : 

.Jews 

Katives 

Book-biuders : 

.Tews 

Natives 

Butcbers : 

Jews 

Natives  ..-.- 

Drivers  of  carriages : 

Jews 

Natives 

DyerS : 

Jews 

Natives 

Horseshoers,  native  

Jewelers : 

Jews 

Natives 

Porters : 

Jews ■ 

Natives • 

Potters : 

■Jews » 

Natives 

Printers : 

•Jews 

Natives 

Teachers  public  schools : 

.Jews 

Natives 

Saddle-makers : 

Jews 

Natives 

Tanners,  native • 

Tailors,  native 

Telegraph  operators,  native 

Tinsmiths : 

.Jew  s 

Natives 

Weavers  (outside  of  mills),  native 

Barbers : 

Jews 

Natives 

Boatmen,  native 

Cooks,  native 

Dragomans,  native 

Ka wasses,  native 

Oil-makers : 

Jews 

Natives 

Pearl- workers,  native 

Shoemakers : 

Jews  

Natives 

Stone-cutters : 

Jews 

Natives    

"Waiters,  native 

Whitewashers : 

•Jews 

Natives 

Farm  laborei-s : 

Jews 

Natives 

Post-office  clerks,  native 

Police,  natives 

Shop  hands  or  clerks  : 

Jews 

Natives 


$1  20 
1  20 


1  92 

2  40 


1  92 

2  40 


2  40 
2  40 


2  40 


2  40 

2  40 

2 

40 

2  40 

92 

92 

1  44 

1  92 

20 

20 

92 

92 

40 

44 

50 

44 

44 

92 

1  20 

20 

20 

00 

.2 

00 

00 

92 

92 

20 

20 

92 

1 

44 

2  40 

6  00 

2  40 

2 

40 

1  20 

1 

44 

1 

50 

76 

50 

50 

LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA.   ■  293 


PERSIA. 

REPORT  BY  OONSVLGENERAL  BENJAMIN,  OF  TEHERAN. 

I  Lave  the  honor  to  inclose  to  you  to-day  a  report  on  the  statis*tics  of 
labor  or  the  laboring  classes  in  Persia. 

Illness  has  prevented  an  earlier  response  to  the  circular  of  the 
33epartmeut.  Mr.  A.  B.  Keiin,  our  dragoman,  and  Mirza  Ali  Asker- 
klten,  our  moonchee,  have  aided  me  in  collecting  the  facts  embodied  in 
this  report,  which  have  been  obtained  from  every  possible  source  in 
this  vicinity. 

It  will  be  seen  that  it  includes  a  variety  of  trades  and  pursuits 
peculiar  to  this  part  of  the  Orient.  Observations  in  the  margin  convey 
additional  facts.  I  may  say  here,  however,  that  there  are  no  strikes  in 
Persia,  and  little  evidence  that  there  has  been  much  change  among  the 
laboring  classes  for  ages. 

They  are  not  more  discontented  than  the  same  classes  elsewhere,  all 
things  in  life  being  relative,  and  discontent  generally  arising  from  two 
causes — a  knowledge  of  a  better  condition  of  things  and  a  hoije  or 
ambition  of  reaching  it. 

The  ignorance  existing  here  regarding  the  conditions  of  society 
elsewhere,  the  fact  that  all,  high  and  low,  are  equally  slaves  of  the 
King,  and  that  the  great,  being  more  prominent,  are  more  liable  to  the 
outbursts  of  royal  caprice,  rage,  or  injustice,  tends  to  produce  content. 

I  know  of  no  laboring  classes  in  other  countries  who  appear  more 
cheerful  and  satisfied  with  their  lot.  The  climate,  also,  in  most  parts 
of  Persia,  is  of  such  a  nature  as  to  reduce  the  actual  wants  of  the  peo- 
ple. One  hears  occasionally  of  riots  or  attacks  on  tax  collectors,  guilty 
of  more  than  ordinary  rapacity,  but  I  cannot  learn  that  these  are  more 
frequent  than  formerly. 

The  peasant  class  are,  man  for  man,  actually  better  off  and  happier 
than  the  peasantry  of  Turkey  or  India.  Of  course,  as  foreign  ideas 
creep  in  and  foreign  labor-saving  inventions  gradually  take  root  in 
Persia,  displacing  methods  in  use  for  thousands  of  years,  discontent  in 
larger  measure  may  be  looked  for. 

Discontent  among  all  classes  is  the  penalty  the  nineteenth  century 
pays  for  the  privilege  of  being  foremost  among  the  progressive  ages, 
so-called. 

But  material  progress  will  a  long  time  be  so  gradual  in  this  country 
that  the  laboring  classes  will  be  able  to  adapt  themselves  to  the  changes 
without  the  violence  Avhich  attended  the  introduction  of  steam  in  the 
mills  of  England  early  in  the  century. 

S.  G.  W.  BENJAMIN, 

Consul- General. 

Teheran,  September  6,  1884. 


^94 


LABOR    IN   ASIA:    PERSIA. 

I.  Geneeax,  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  workmen  in  Persia,  a 


Occupations. 


Persian  name. 


English  name. 


Fixed,  b 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Bena  seft  kar 

Chaggird 

Bena  guetch  kar 

Clinggird 

Bena  gool  kar 

Chaggird 

Amaleh 

K"aveh  kesch 

Bena  

Kooreh  pez 

Chaggird 

Khecbt  mall » 

Nadjai- : 

Chaggird 

Nadjar  nazook  kar 

Cbasgird 

Messgu6r 

Four  assistants : 

Calemzenn  

Icharkoshzen 

Chaggiid 

Messgodass 

Sefidgueir 

Chaggird 

Kftnod   

Chaggird 

Keng  rez 

Chaggird 

Hakak... 

Chaggird 

Noon  za 

Six  assistants :  A; 
Chatirr  noon  za 

Khamirguirr 

Sararoudarr 

Attechendaz 

Nanguirr 

Chaggird...; 

Khar  dooz 

Cha-gird 

Kulah  dnoz 

Chaggird 

Serkfsh  dooz 

Chaggird 

Sarradj    . .   

Chaggird 

Dahbagh 

Three  assistants: 

Cha  ngird 

Pucht  tarrach 

Moo  kenn 

Oroo  ssi  dooz 

Chaggird 

Halabv  saz 

Chaggird 


Wall  maker  or  bricklayer. 

Assistant  c 

Plasterer  

Assistant .  - 

Fine  plasterer 

Assistant  ^ 

Tender  d 

Hod  carriers 

Roofer,  mason,  &c 

Brick-maker 

Assistant 

Sun-burnt  brick-makere. . 
Carpenter/ 

Assistant 

Joiner 

Assistant 

Copper-smiths  gf 


Engraver  on  copper. 
Beater  

Tender  

Founder    

Copper  ■whitene^/^ .. 

Assistant 

Confectioner 

Assistant 

Dyer    . .  ■ 

Assistant 

Engravei'  (seals)  i... 

Assistant 

Baker  j 


$0  20^ 


mi 


Handler  of  loaves  at  the  oven. 

Kneader 

Weigher  of  bread 

Oven  tender 

Distributer  of  loaves 

Tender  to  all 

Fur  sewer 

Assistant 

Persian  hats-maker  I 

Assistant 

Saddle  sewer 

Assistant 

Bridle  and  saddle-bag  maker. . . 

Assistant 

Tanner  


Tender  ... 
Hide  splitter. 
Hide  cleaner. 
Shoemaker... 

Assistant. 
Tinsmith 

Assistant. 


19^ 

64^4 

64i? 
32#T 
64 1?- 
32#i 
64M 

243\ 
32,? 
125! 
64  i? 


323"! 


323«r 

323^ 

163\ 

561* 
24A 
1251 

245'V 
20,^ 

mi 

24#r 
32#T 
32A 


56J 


'i2>T 


16A 
48  it 
16A 


48i? 
24A 
48^ 
243\ 
80§? 

323T 

20A 
48iJ 
401? 
80f? 
32s«i 

mi 

481? 


80S? 


80§? 
32#i 


24A 

1  6U\ 

24,^ 


1293't 

mi 

32A 


32A 


aWork  from  snnri.se  to  sunset.  In  winter  ahotit  one  hour's  leave  at  noon  for  breakfast.  In  sum- 
mer workmen  leave  twice  in  a  day;  first,  at  about  11  o'clock  for  breakfast,  and  then  in  the  afternoon 
for  lunch.     Generally  there  is  no  work  on  Fridays. 

bTbfse  might  al-^o  bo  considered  as  average  wages. 

cChag>;ird  is  an  assistant  and  at  the  same  time  a  pupil. 

d  Ainalch  is  a  general  tender  or  assistant  used  in  any  gross  work. 

e Generally  paid  48 Jf  cents  for  a  thousand  bricks. 

/  ArTiicman  carpenters  are  paid  at  higher  rates :  .80§J  cents  to  $1.6l3\  to  the  carpenter,  and  .24g\  to 
.S4Jf  cents  for  his  assistant. 

g  Owner  of  tlie  shop  or  foundry. 

/iAlso  j)aid  according  to  weight  of  copper  to  whiten. 

iAlso  paid  according  to  number  of  letters  engraved  on  the  seals.  Avery  important  pursuit  in 
Persia. 

J  Owner  of  the  .shop. 

A;  These  assistants  receive  also,  each  of  them,  about  half  a  maSn  or  3  pounds  of  bread. 

I  Important  industry.    Hats  being  of  same  form  aud  made  of  lambskin,  or  imitation  lambskin. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA. 
Wages  paid  per  day  to  xvorkmen  in  Persia — Continued. 


295 


Occapations. 


Persian  name. 


Hasseer  baff 

ChafTgird 

Alagh  beud  

Chasginl 

Keniad  mall  .   

Two  assistants: 

Chagsiixi 

Nahuhreez 

Chichi'hjiiieiT 

Cluijigird 

Attes  endar 

Ahen  KiiL't'r 

Cbairgird 

Koorch  dam 

Khaviatt 

Cliagjiird 

Khayiatt  armeny , 

Chaggird 

Tchitt  sazl : 

Xaloop  trach 

Siali  saz  , 

Za};li  saz 

Tal)z  saz 

JCill  saz  

C  hagrjird 

Poteel  reng  koon 

Ciiagiiid 

Sahia  karr  

Teguer  saz 

Mooreh  kech 

Nakach 

Chaggird 

Saleni  kar  uioomy : 

Siah  saz ". 

Zaghvaz 

Moom  saz, . . . 

:Moom  pessgnir 

Davatt  giierr , 

Chaggird 

Samovar  saz 

Chaggird 

Kharratt 

Chaggird 

Fooladgucrrv  : 

FiMiladsaz 

Pficlakhguir 

Tela  koo 

Kaleujsen  raonabettkarr 

Chaggird 

Eooh  saz , 

Chaggird 

Cbemt-hir  saz 

Cliaggird 

Tchiikoo  saz 

Chaggird , 

Kaetcbeo  saz 

Chaggird 

Zerguer 

Chaggird 


English  name. 


Mat-makorrt... 

Assistant... 
Ribbon-maker 

Assistant ... 
Pelt-maker 


Tender 

Painter  of  designs  of  felt  carpets. 
Glass-worker 

Assistant 

Fire-tender 

Blacksmith 

Assistant 

Tender 

Tailor 

Assistant 

Armenian  tailor 

Assistant 

Cotton  printing:  6 

Wooden  patterns  maker  c 

Printer  in  black  dyes 

Printer  in  red  d>  es 

Priuti-r  in  green  dyes 

Finisher  of  work  of  the  above 
Assistant 

Dyer  and  tixer 

Assistant 

Washer  of  prints  d 

Applier  of  gold  designs 

Print  sizer 

Painter 

Assistant 

Prints  for  export :  e 

Printer  in  black  dyes  / 

Printer  in  red  dyes  g 

Wax  applier 

Finisher  to  above 

Metal  re])airer 

Assistant 

Brazier 

Assistant 

Turner 

Assistant 

Steel  foundry  :  h 

Founder 

Polisher 

Damascening  i 

Engraver  in  steel 

Assistant 

Turner  in  stone 

Assistant 

Sword  maker  J 

A  ssistant  

Penknife  maker  J 

Assistant 

Scissors-maker  j 

Assistant  

Jeweler 

Assistant 


Fixed. 


40J? 
20,\ 


24j\ 

64Jf 
32s\ 

484? 


13§! 


40|? 
203\ 
80§? 
322\ 
48if 


24J 


Lowest. 


$0  48  J  J. 
24s«. 
48^1- 


48^i 


IGrfr 
64|! 
32/1 

43i! 
48i? 


16.^ 


323^ 

mi 

323\ 

12|f 
16,\ 


20A 

1  12§! 
163*1 

1  6lij 
mi 
24^1 


40H 
16A 


40J? 
12sf 
48Jf 


a  Generally  paid  4,^  to  5§J  cents  per  square  yard. 

6  Very  important  industry  though  European  imports  are  daily  ruining  it.  Principal  factories  .at  Ts- 
pahau,  Broudjird,  (fcc. 

c  One  hundred  and  forty-two  of  these  patterns  are  employed  to  complete  the  designs  on  one  curtain. 

d  The  poteel  reng  koon  or  dyer  and  fixer  of  designs  dyes  the  cotton  cloth  after  it  passed  throusrh  the 
printing  process,  then  it  goes  to  tbe  washers,  who,  spreailing  the  cloth  on  the  ground  near  the  stream, 
throw  water  on  it  during  forty  days,  after  which  the  paint  applied  by  the  dyer  disappears,  leaving 
the  cloth  white,  with  only  the  designs  printed  and  fixed  by  this  proce.ss. 

e  These  are  for  Turkestan. 

/Afghanistan. 

g  Kurds,  &.c.  They  are  not  so  good  in  quality  as  the  first,  but  are  more  showy.  A  coat  of  wax  is 
applied  to  the  cloth,  and  the  surplus  taken  otf  by  the  finisher  after  absorption. 

h  Chief  foundries  are  in  Tspahau,  where  they  form  an  important  industry. 

r  Tlie  tel.a  koo  generally  gels  paid  by  tnkinir  half  the  gold  orsilver  given  to  him  to  inlay  in  steel ;  that 
is,  if  one  wants  to  have  live  grains  of  gold  inlaid  ten  grains  must  be  given  to  the  telil  koo. 

j  These  are  three  separate  industries,  every  man  working  in  his  own  shop  generally. 


296 


LABOK    IN   ASIA:    PERSIA. 
Wages  paid  per  day  io  tvorkmen  in  Persia — Continued. 


Occupations. 


Persian  name. 


ShaU  ba£f 

Chaggird 

Haladj.. 

Chaggird 

Ossar      .       

Chaggird 

Kachee  saz , 

Chaggird 

Sa-aff  .- 

Chaggird , 

Rah  saz 

Chaggird 

Achpez  bazarce  

Chaggird 

Baghban     

Amaleh 

Mok  anee 

Chaggird 

Kenaz 

Araalehs 

labah  Keeh 

Icharkochzen  

Kassap 

Chireh  kesh,  or  arak  frooch 

Nael  bend 

Nael  boor 

Mich  saz 

Koozehguerr 

Senisar 

Chaggird 

Basmatchee 

Tchaptchee 

Zinn  saz 

Sarradj 

Hayam 

Chaggird 

Lah  baft 

Gaali  baff 

Zen 

Merd 

Tharerbaff 

Dellac 

Khamal 

Gordjehdooz 


English  name. 


Shawl-maker  a 

Assistant 

Cotton  beater , 

Assistant,  boy 

Oil  merchant 

Assistant 

Potter  in  faience 

Assistant 

Book-binder  b 

Assistant 

Rice  and  butter-merchant  c 

Assistant 

Cook  at  the  market  place  c 

Assistant 

Gardeners 

Assistants,  each 

Sanaught  digger d 

Assistant 

Sewerer 

A  ssistants,  each 

Tray  can  ier 

Hammerer  e 

Butcher 

Cigar-makers 

Distiller  and  wine  merchant/ 

Horseshoer 

Horseshoe-maker 

Kail-maker 

Potters 

Broker  g 

Assistant 

Lithographers 

Printers , 

Musical  instrument  makers 

Saddle-maker 

Harness-maker 

Tent-maker 

Assistant 

Rope-maker 

Carpet-weaver  h 

Woman  assistant 

Man  assistant , 

"Weaver  i 

Barber  j  

Gunsmith , 

Porters 

Shoemaker  for  women 

Women: 

Gross  work 

Pearl  embroidery ;  silk,  silver, 
and  gold  work,  &c. 


rixed. 


$0  40/j 
% 


24A 


24A 


16,\ 
48J? 
24A 


Lowest. 


'32A 


32,«r 

243\ 


24#i 

123^f 

32,\ 


914.  « 
24fi 
^%\ 
243\ 
16s\ 
243\ 
48  it 
24#i 
24s\ 
61  #t 
323^ 
404? 
251! 
323\ 

•'■^31 
323'r 

48^ 
243«r 
16A 


40i? 
243\ 
404? 
I63V 

163\ 

08,,-r 

163\ 

5dwt 


Highest. 


801? 

"mi 


mi 

243\ 
80«? 


163\ 


32A 

C163\ 

i    64if 


64i! 
40|? 
401? 
323\ 
243\ 
323\ 
64Jf 

323\ 

40^» 

96  77^ 

404f 

mi 

48H 
40^ 
48^ 
48^ 
64§f 

32A 
32A 


48^1 
32^ 

m'x 

323«r 
404? 
243^ 
40Jf 

80f? 
1  QU\ 


a  Factories  in  Meched,  Tezd,  and  Kachan. 

6  Sometimes  paid  at  the  rate  of  12  3^  ci  nts  for  each  book  when  there  are  many. 

c  This  is  an  important  industry,  as  the  pillo  or  pilloff,  the  national  dish  in  the  Orient,  is  made  only  of 
rice  and  butter,  and  accompanied  by  the  khorecht,  or  ragoiit  of  some  sort  or  other,  both  sold  at  the 
market-place. 

d  Sanaught  is  the  subterranean  aqueduct  common  in  Persia. 

e  Special  industry.    Total  stock  in  trade,  a  hammer  applied  wherever  required. 

/These  are  the  wages  paid  to  the  assistants  by  the  owner  of  the  shop,  who  is  always  a  Jew  or  Ar- 
menian. 

g  This  is  an  important  business ;  a  semsar  being  a  broker,  pawnbroker ;  and  a  semsar  in  Persia  has 
never  been  known  to  fail;  and  the  corporation  of  Teheran  pays  a  tax  of  $967.74g\  to  the  King. 

h  Owner  of  factory. 

i  Piincipal  factories  of  weavers  at  Kachan,  Yezd,  and  Rescht. 

j  The  barber  works  from  morning  to  noon  in  the  hot  baths,  then  goes  to  his  shop  ;  he  cannot  make 
more  than  40!^?  cents  a  day,  except  in  exceptional  oases.  But  the  work  is  steady,  for  the  prophet  or- 
dained the  shaving  of  the  crown  of  all  true  believers  of  the  male  persuasion. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA. 

X.  General  household  wages  in  Persia. 

Wayea paid jjer  month  to  Persian  servants. 


297 


Occupations. 


Persian  name. 


English  name. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Nazeer Steward 

Pich1<lioilmiittbachee !  Head  waiter  . 

PishklicdiiKitt i  Waiter  a . 


l'iei)arer  of  refreshments 

Assistant 

Coti'et'-niiiker 

A.ssistaut 

Cook 

Assistant  b 

Scullion 

Assistant 

Footinan,  tent-pitcher,  &c.  c 

Valet  de  chambre , 

Second 

Head  footman 

Errand-boy 

Chest-keeper  d 


Shcrlx'ttdrn- 

Cha^gird 

Kaothtcheo 

Chafigird 

Achper 

Chagfrird 

Ayaktfdiee 

Cluiggird 

Ferrach 

Ferrach  khelvatt 

Nayeb  (second) 

Ferrach  bachee 

Kliai(ljbe-arr 

Seudook  darr 

Min-akhor Equerry 

Djel6odurr ;  Avant  courier 

M6h-ter Hostler e 

Icliabook  Savar  Grooiu/ 

KaU'skedjoe Coachman 

Abdarr Alouutod  atteudantflr 

Chaggird Assistant 

Hadjeh Eunuch  h 

Leleii ,  Old  household  servant  t 

Soreidarr i  Keeper  of  house  in  family's  ab- 

I      sence. 

Kapootchee I  Doorkeeper 

Baghban  ,  Gardener 

lay  eh Wet-uursoJ 

Sendookdar. , '  Chest-kceiior 

Khayatt Seamstress 

Pislikhedmatt I  Maid 

Pahdo Maid  of  all  work 

Zerdooz Embroiderer  k 

Achpez  Cook  i 

First  nioonchee ] 

%fy'''^  "'""'fl'^'e I  Persian  scribes  for  legations  m  . 

inud  moouchee l[  " 

Fourth  moonchee J 

Gholam I  Mounted  servants  71 ;  sortof  body- 

I      guard. 

Jerrach !  Footman  o 

Pishkheduiatt ;  Waiter^ 


$8  06J^ 
8  06it 
4  833 1 
3  22Jf 
1  61^\ 
3  22if 


$16  12§f 

'  24  19Ji 

8  06^{ 

8  06Jf 

2  4m 

4  8iU 


3  22JI 
'3'22H 


8  06M 


$2  4151 
"2'4if? 


3  22if 

4  83§1 
4  03,'r 


4  033\ 
6  45A 

5  64§} 


161A 


4  SWi 

$4  sm 

3  22Jf 
2  415? 


6  45^r 
6  453\ 
4  83§f 
3  22Jf 


8  06|* 
3  22if 


4  83^51- 
3  22if 


1  61' 


8  06Jf 
4  832 ; 


8  061^ 
3  22V? 


2  41  §? 

3  22Jf 
1  61 3\ 

4  03,V 


16  121! 


16  12if 
6  45,\ 


2  41§| 
"3'22if 


831? 
83§t 

83§f 


48  38§? 


4  83f? 

80s^ 


1  61A 
f  32  25M 
I        to 
[   80  64Jf 

5  64|f 

5  611f 
8  06Jt 


a  There  are  sometimes  six  waiters  in  a  house. 

6  Receives  al.so  his  board. 

c  A  house  may  have  from  one  or  two  to  fifty  footmen  ;  ferraches  of  the  Government  act  as  guards, 
policemen,  &c.,"  together  with  the  gholams  or  cavalrymen,  who  are  in  reality  mounted  ferraches,  though 
not  considered  to  be  so ;  the  usage  is  that  tho  ferracli  must  be  armed  with  a  long  dagger,  and  the  gho- 
lam witli  the  gun  and  curved  poignard  ;  Ihe  gholam  wages  vary  from  $35. 48^^  to  $96.773x  for  man  and 
horse  yearly. 

(/  tUoiliiug  and  precious  articles  are  usually  kept  in  trunks,  and  the  office  of  chest-keeper  in  some 
rich  hortses  is  very  important. 

e  There  is  always  one  hostler  for  every /oitr  riorses. 

/One  groom  to  every  two  horses  ;  he  receives  also  his  house  and  clothing. 

g  The  abdar  is  a  special  servant,  carrying  in  saddle-bags  materials  for  preparing  smoking-pipes  and 
tea  and  cotl'ee  on  the  road. 

h  To  be  a  hadjeh  or  eunuch  is  also  a  special  Oriental  pursuit  in  Persia,  more  followed  there  by 
white  men  than  by  Ethiopians.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  confound  hadjeh  with  hadji,  pilgrim — the 
eunuch  receives  also  board  and  clothing. 

iTlie  leleh  is  an  old  servant  of  the  house  who  has  charge  of  the  children,  who  are  usually  numerous  in 
wealthy  Persian  households. 

jThese  are  all  servants  to  the  enderonn  or  harem,  and  they  receive  board  and  clothing. 

k  In  pearl,  gold,  silver,  silk  work,  not  a  regular  servant. 

Z  Female  cook,  only  for  the  endcroon  or  women's  apartment. 

1)1  See  note  at  the  end  of  this  list  about  mooncheos. 

n  These  servants  are  couriers,  avant-couriers,  body-guaids ;  they  accompany  members  of  the  lega- 
tions on  official  business  and  form  a  body-guard  to  tho  minister;  they  are  paid  by  the  Government  of 
the  legation  emploving  them. 

0  Two  of  these  are  paid  by  the  Government,  the  others  are  personal  servants. 

p  These— also  the  nazeer  or  steward,  who  receives  higher  wages  but  is  considered  as  a  waiter  or  head 
waiter — these  are  personal  servants. 


298 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  Persian  servants — Continued. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average . 

Persian  name. 

English  name. 

Ferrach  defter 

$4  8311 
5  644? 

Ferrach  khelvatt 

Valet  6 

iiiiT  a  Itlior 

8  06|* 

Mehter 

4    U3g'i 

Achpez 

14  51if 
6  453\ 
5  64i? 

Sberbette  dar 

Kaveh  tehee 

Three  chaggird 

4  03^ 

Common  servants  for  all  woi'kd 

4  83it 
4  03,V 

Kapootchee 

Soreidar 

4  83M 
4  S^i 

Baghban 

Bashhan  bachee 

16  12§| 
4  83§I 

Sakka  

Karal-ol  

1  20|? 
1  61,\ 

Vakeel 

a  The  ferrach  defter  are  men  x>aid  by  the  Government,  whose  business  is  to  take  care  of  the  office  of 
the  legation,  keep  the  keys,  clean  the  rooms,  bear  letters,  and  be  employed  as  messengers  for  otHcial 
errands. 

6  The  valet  or  ferrach  belvatt  is  a  personal  servant,  the  equerry  and  three  of  the  hostlers  are  paid  by 
the  Government. 

c  The  kavetchee  is  paid  by  the  Government,  as  well  as  his  assistant. 

d  These  are  personal  servants. 

e  These  are  paid  by  the  Government. 

Note. — All  the.se  servants  receive  twice  yearly  cloth  for  a  coat  and  the  amount  of  one  month's  wages 
on  an  average  as  a  present. 

Note. — The  moonchee  ;  the  onlymoonchee  employed  at  the  United  States  legation  receives  only  10 
tomans  ($16,125")  a  month,  with  some  of  the  usual  presents,  and  no  allowance  in  summer,  and  owing  to 
insufficiency  of  appropriation  no  gholams  or  lerraches  can  be  employed  at  this  legation  at  present ; 
the  same  is  true  of  several  other  classes  of  servants.  The  moonchee  is  an  em  ploy^  of  legation,  Persian  asa 
rule,  their  monthly  wages  vary  according  to  qualiflcations,  rank,  and  term  of  service,  from  $.'',2.2.5§f  and 
$24.19J?  to  $80.64Jf  ;  they  receive  a  present  on  the  new  year's  day,  and  in  the  summer  when  the  legation 
is  transferred  to  the  country  place,  they  receive  a  ceitain  sum  a  day  for  the  surplus  of  expenses  ;  their 
work  is  to  take  verbal  messages  to  the  foreign  office  or  officers  of  the  Government,  to  write  and  copy 
Periiian  letter.s,  to  attend  to  the  small  business  of  the  legation,  to  be  sent  to  witness  punishments 
demanded  by  the  legation,  to  bring  infonnation,  to  attend  to  complaints  from  legation  servants,  and 
under  instructinns  from  their  snperiois  to  see  to  justice  being  done  to  such  claims  ;  their  duties,  in  a 
word,  are  peculiar  to  a  legation  in  Oriental  countries.  Eveiy  legation  employs  one  to  four,  but  when  a 
legation  has  oidy  one  moonchee  his  wages  must  not  be  less  than  $24. 19^?,  and  go  to  $48.38jf  a  month. 
They  are  very  useful.  They  have  no  rank  among  Europeans  and  are  not  considered  as  officers  of  the 
Government  by  the  foreign  office.  The  office  is  considered  to  omount  to  something  more  than  a  steward 
and  less  than  a  private  secretary.  The  minister  of  foreign  ati'airs  receives  them  soTuetimes  on  official 
business,  but  as  a  rule  they  are  directed  to  address  themselves  to  the  under-secretaries  of  the  foreign 
office. 

COST   OF  LIVING   TO   THE   LABORING   CLASS. 

Thonsli  the  following  may  be  considered  as  a  fair  average  of  cost  of 
living  in  all  Persia,  it  is  special  to  Teheran : 

The  cost  of  liv^ing  of  the  laboring  class  or  of  any  class  in  Persia  is 
difficult  to  find  out;  there  are  ptople  who  earn  1  kran  =  IGg^j  cents  a 
day  and  live  on  that;  others  earn  $6,453^^,  or  40  krans,  a  mouth,  and 
spend  10  tomans,  or  $16.12ff. 

Un  an  average  one  might  say  that  a  married  man  with  three  children, 
and  having  a  house  of  his  own,  may  live  on  2  krans  =  'S2:^j  cents  a  day ; 
if  obliged  to  i)ay  rent,  on  3  krans,  or  48i|  cents  a  day.  But  this  is  poor 
and  miserable  living  even  in  Persia.  To  live  in  comparative  comfort  a 
workman  who  has  to  support  a  wife  and  three  children  needs  7  krans, 
=  $1.12f^  a  day.  A  man  might  even  live  on  83-j  and  1G^\  cents  by 
eating  anything  and  sleeping  anywhere. 

The  rate  of  expenses  for  such  a  family  is  as  follows: 

Daily : 

One  maun  =  6^  pounds  of  bread,  10  slialii.s $0  OSfi 

Oue-quarter  of  a  niann  of  meat,  8  slialiis 0  06^f 

Light,  coal,  wood,  tobacco,  &c.,  20  sbahis 0  163^ 


LABOR    IN   ASIA:    PERSIA.  299 

Weekly  : 

A  disli  of  pillan  or  rice,  butter,  and  meat,  3  krans $0  48^ 

Hot  bath  for  tive  persons,  3  krans 0  48^ 

Monthly  : 

Rent  of  house,  20  krans 3  22-^| 

Yearly: 

Man's  clothing,  100  krans 16  12|| 

Woman's  clothing,  100  krajis 16  12|4 

Three  children's  clothing,  150  krans 24  19^^ 

One  kran  at  actual  rate  of  exchange  equals  ICg*^  cents  ;  one  shahi  (20 
sliabis  making  I  kran)  equals  f  f^  cents  ;  the  toman  is  worth  10  krans. 
The  currency  has  depreciated  recently  slightly  over  2  shahis  to  a  dollar. 

This  would  make  l,595i  krans  of  annual  expenses  (equaling  $257.33|f ) 
or  4  krans,  7  and  f^  shahis  a  day  (=  70i|  cents),  and  is  still  a  very  low 
average,  not  enabling  the  workman  to  save  anything  for  old  age  or  in 
■case  of  illness  or  accident. 

INCREASE   IN  LIVING   EXPENSES. 

It  is  said  that  the  cost  of  living  has  increased  since  1878  25  per  cent., 
the  chief  reasons  being  the  depreciation  in  the  A^alue  of  money,  the 
European  imports  crushing  Persian  industry  and  somewhat  the  increase 
of  European  population. 

THE   MODAKHEEL    OR   COMMISSION   SYSTEM. 

The  servants  generally  earn  3  to  5  tomans  a  month  (equaling  $4.S3|^ 
to  $8,061^),  this  not  being  suflflcient  for  their  expenses,  especiall.v  if  they 
have  a  family  to  support^  The  difference  is  made  up  by  what  is  called 
the  "  modakheel."  This  is  a  Persian  word  meanin g^ro/f,  but  specially 
applied  to  the  10  per  cent,  (or  more)  commission  persons  in  service  are 
accustomed  to  add  to  cost  of  purchases ;  many  do  not  attempt  to  gain 
more  than  this ;  but  on  the  other  hand,  as  it  is  easy  to  see,  advantage 
is  taken  by  multitudes  to  appropriate  far  more  than  the  10  per  cent, 
winked  at  by  custom.  It  is  scarcely  too  strong  a  statement  to  affirm 
that  the  modakheel  is  accepted  by  all,  in  every  grade  of  Persian  society. 

TAXES. 

There  are  no  regular  taxes  bearing  on  the  working  class.  Brokers, 
traders,  artisans,  farmers,  land-owners,  an.d  miners  pay  duties  to  the 
Government.  Villagers,  after  having  cultivated  their  land  and  disposed 
of  the  crop,  come  to  the  cities  and  engage  themselves  as  workmen. 
Out  of  tlie  money  they  earn  daring  their  stay  in  the  cities  they  pay 
their  taxes. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

The  habits  of  the  working  classes  are  generally  steady  and  saving. 
They  attend  to  their  religious  duties;  they  like  to  have  their  houses  in 
good  condition  and  properly  furnished.  When  their  means  allow  it 
they  dress  well,  and  are  comparatively  clean  in  their  dress  and  habits. 
On'an  average  one  might  say  there  are  10  per  cent,  of  unjiriucipled 
men,  most  of  them  to  be  found  among  camel  and  mule-drivers  and 
ferraches.  These  are  rather  given  to  gambling,  drinking,  and  quar- 
reling, but  the  working  class  is  otherwise  less  affected  by  these  vices. 

Most  of  them  try  to  save  money,  no  matter  what  their  wages  may  be. 
Those  who  come  for  a  certain  time  from  their  villages  would  even  save 


300  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA. 

on  seven  cents  a  day.  They  are  also  more  careful  now  about  their  ex- 
penses than  they  were  a  few  years  ago.  Formerly  it  was  customary 
for  a  well-to-do  workman  to  give  twice  a  year  an  entertainment  to  his 
friends,  costing  each  time  from  15  to  30  tomans  (about  $24  to  $50). 
This  is  not  done  any  more,  or  rarely,  as,  seeing  the  cost  of  living  rising 
every  day,  they  prudently  try  to  save  more. 

An  average  of  50  per  cent,  can  be  said  to  be  honest  among  them ;  but 
honest  in  their  way.  They  would  not  steal  openly  the  smallest  sum  of 
money,  but  would  make  any  amount  of  "modakheel." 

Their  general  condition  is  good  when  compared  to  that  of  the  work- 
ing classes  of  other  oriental  countries. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  that  prevails  between  employes  and  emi^loyer  is  usually 
good;  strikes  are  exceptional  occurrences,  necessarily  never  general, 
and  do  not  succeed.  Workmen  are  paid  in  copper  or  silver  currency 
every  day  or  week ;  they  are  free  to  buy  the  necessaries  of  life  wher- 
ever they  choose.  As  a  rule,  the  employer  is  solicitous  of  the  safety 
and  health  of  the  workmen.  Tbe  custom  exists  that  when  a  workman 
is  wounded  or  gets  ill  while  in  service  the  employer  will  provide  for  his 
and  the  family's  expenses  until  the  man  is  cured.  In  case  of  death  by 
accident  in  building,  &c.,  the  employer  offers  a  certain  sum  of  money  to 
the  family  of  the  deceased  (from  $160  to  $320),  and  in  case  they  refuse 
to  accept  it  the  employer,  according  to  usage,  provides  for  their  daily 
expenses  until  the  children  are  old  enough  to  work  for  the  family. 

EMIGRATION. 

Emigration  does  not  exist.  In  case  a  workman  goes  out  of  Persia  he 
goes  with  the  intention  of  returning,  and  only  goes  when  sent.  In  such 
case  he  does  not  leave  unless  a  good  sum  of  money  is  first  given  to  his 
family  to  pay  expenses  until  his  return. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES,  POLITICAL   RIGHTS,  ETC. 

Regular  corporations  and  societies  do  not  exist  in  Persia,  as  they 
would  not  be  approved  by  the  authorities,  and  no  co-operative  associa- 
tions are  found. 

The  working  class  does  not  enjoy  any  political  rights. 

WOMEN  WORKERS. 

Education  among  men,  women,  and  children  of  the  working  classes 
is  not  worth  mentioning.  A  great  many  of  them  can  keep  their  ac- 
counts and  read  the  Koran,  but  that  is  all  they  get  in  the  way  of  edu- 
cation.    Women  have  no  education  whatever,  generally  speaking. 

CAUSES   OF   REDUCTION   OF  WAGES. 

The  employment  of  women  does  not  seem  to  affect  workmen's  wages, 
their  respective  work  being  quite  distinct  and  diiferent.  What  has  con- 
tributed to  reduce  wages  were  and  are  the  imports  from  Europe,  which, 
having  been  a  cause  of  ruin  to  a  great  number  of  small  factories  all 
over  Persia,  have  thrown  out  of  work  since  the  time  of  Fath  Ali  Shah 
thousands  of  workmen  and  lessened  the  demand  for  labor.     Paper,  ink, 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA.  301 

lamp  oil,  leather,  cotton  prints,  cloth,  and  nearly  all  the  necessaries  of 
life  were  uianufactnred  in  Persia,  bnt  the  cnstom  dnty  of  5  per  cent,  not 
protecting-  enongh  the  Persian  trade  and  industries,  the  European  im- 
ports got  possession  of  the  market. 

MINES  AND  MININa.* 

This  industry  is  not  thoroughly  developed  in  Persia,  though  the  coun- 
try is  rich  in  mining  districts.  Turquoise  mines  are  worked  to  a  great 
extent;  gold  and  silver  mines  could  not  be  made  to  pay  until  now. 
Copper,  alum,  sulphur,  coal,  and  lead  mines  are  worked  to  a  certain  de- 
gree, and  pay,  the  only  working  materials  being  gunpowder,  hammer, 
pickaxe,  and  crow-bar. 

Sometimes  people  farm  a  mine  and  work  it  for  themselves.  "When 
the  Government  or  a  farmer  of  mines  employs  miners  their  wages  vary 
from  10  to  15  and  20  shahes  for  boys  (83^  and  123^^  to  IGtj^-  cents),  and 
20  to  50  shahes  for  men  (lOg^j  to  40i^  cents)  a  day.  The  work  begins 
at  sunrise  and  ends  at  about  sunset,  meals  (bread  and  cheese)  being 
taken  in  the  mine.  The  chief  workman  is  sometimes  paid  3  krans 
(481=-  cents)  to  4  krans  (04if^  cents),  and  some,  whose  chief  business  is 
to  build  props,  and  who  are  known  to  be  experienced,  receive  up  to  5 
krans  or  80|f  cents  a  dviy,  this  being  considered  very  high  pay.  The 
overseer  receives  from  35  to  50  krans  a  month  ($5.64if  to  $8.0Gi|^). 
Mining  is  uot  a  special  pursuit  (except  turquoise  mining),  as  the  work- 
men are  generally  peasants  who  go  to  the  mines  when  uot  required,  or 
getting  as  high  wages,  in  the  fields. 

FEMALE  LABOR. 

Women  are  ofteu  employed  in  weaving  factories,  cotton  work,  carpet 
work.  They  are  also  employed  for  cutting  down  wheat,  fruits,  &c., 
for  light  work  at  mines  but  not  in  mines,  and  for  farm  work.  In  some 
wandering  tribes  they  herd  sheep,  bake  bread,  make  cheese  and  butter. 
People  are  wont  to  say  that  in  some  tribes  in  the  south  women  do  men's 
work  to  the  extent  of  even  putting  on  male  clothes,  only  covering  their 
faces  with  the  yachmak,  and  ride  off  to  attack  caravans  and  commit 
robberies  on  the  highways.  Women  do  nearly  all  the  embroidery  work. 
They  are  employed  as  servants  only  in  the  harems  or  enderouns,  and 
sometimes  in  European  families.  They  do  not  suffer  from  impertinence 
in  going  about  their  work,  being  generally  respected.  Their  wages  vary 
a  great  deal.  As  servants  they  receive  from  5  to  35  and  40  krans  (80f^ 
cents  to  $5.64if  and  $6.45^y)  a  month,  with  board  and  clothing,  in  Per- 
sian houses;  they  only  board  in  European  families.  Thirty-flve  and  40 
krans  ($5.64if  and  $6,453^)  a  month  are  high  wages,  paid  only  by 
Europeans;  the  Persians,  as  a  rule,  do  uot  give  thtjn  more  than  30 
krans  ($4.83fi). 

Embroiderers  can  earn  a  great  deal  either  working  at  their  houses  or 
going  out  in  families;  they  caii  get  from  10  to  30  tomans  a  month 
($l().12ff  to  $48.38|f);  exceiitionally,  more  than  that.  For  other  work 
their  wages  var^'  from  10  shahis  and  1  kran  to  2J  krans  and  5  krans, 
in  exceptional  cases,  a  day  (12|^f  and  IOt^^j-  to  40i|  and  80f^  cents). 
In  many  cases  their  work  amounts  to  the  time  they  can  save  from  their 
household  duties,  as  they  must  be  at  home  one  or  two  hours  before  sun- 
set to  prepare  supper.  Sometimes  they  employ  a  maid  at  home  so  that 
they  may  be  able  to  go  out  to  work  themselves  out-doors. 

*  Report  prepared  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Ketin  for  Consul-General  Benjamin. 


302 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA. 


It  is  impossible  at  present  to  find  out  the  number  of  women  em- 
ployed. As  for  the  means  afforded  for  their  improvement,  safety,  &c.,, 
there  is  no  rule.  Much  depends  on  the  good-will  of  the  employer.  In 
general,  so  far  as  safety  is  concerned,  the  employer  is  solicitous  of  not 
appearing  too  hard. 

PERSIAN  vs.   UNITED   STATES   CURRENCY. 

1  shahee  (copper)  equal $0  OOf^ 

1  abbassee,  4  sbaliees,  equal 03^^ 

1  kran,  20  shahees  (silver)  equal l^^V 

1  re-all,  25  sliahees,  equal 20^^ 

1  tonianu,  10  kraus  (gold)  equal 1  Qhh: 

1  kooroor  (or  kroor)  is  a  term  used  for  500,000. 

1  cent,  equal  sbabee l^g- 

$1,  equal  krans 6^^ 


HAMADAN. 

REPORT  PREPARED  FOR  CONSUL-GENERAL  BENJAMIN,  BY  THE  REV.  R.  Y.  HAVTKS^ 

OF  HAMADAN. 

In  reply  to  your  request  to  fill  out  answers  to  the  questions  contained 
in  the  labor  circular  received  a  few  days  ago,  I  have  collected  the  fol- 
lowing facts,  which  I  hope  you  will  find  serviceable  : 

MALE   LABOR. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  classes  of  laborers  who  receive  the  wages 
mentioned  opposite  their  names  and  are  engaged  in  this  city : 


Occupations. 


Masons per  day.. 

Hod-carriers do 

Carpenters do 

Blacksmittis do 

Wood-clioppers do 

Muleteers do 

Shoemaliers do 

Pack-saddle  sewers do 

Silversmitlis do 

Coppersmiths do 

Eock-cutters do 

Well-diggers do 

Laborers : 

Common  (or  amaleh) do 

In  tannery do , 

In  flour  mill - do 

On  telegraph  line do 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Krs.  Sh. 

Krs.  Sh. 

1    10 

2  10 

1  10 

2  00 

1  00 

1  15 

0  12 

1  10 

1   5 

1  18 

1  00 

1  10 

0  16 

1  10 

1  00 

1  10 

1   5 

2  00 

1   5 

2  00 

2  00 

2  10 

2  00 

2  10 

0  12i 

0  18 

1  10 

2  10 

0  12 

1  00 

1  00 

1  10 

Krs.  Sh. 


2  00 

2  00 

0  15 

1  15 

0  15 

1  5 


Servants  receive  per  mouth  from  8  krans  to  10  tomans,  with  food  and 
clothes,  one  suit  per  year.  A  very  common  agreement  is  to  pay  them 
12  tomans  a  year  and  2  kharvars  of  wheat. 

PERSIAN   MONEY  AND  WEIGHT. 


The  money  in  use  here  is  the  same  as  that  of  Teheran.*     There  are 
two  "mauns"  or  "battmans"  in  use  here,  the  first,  like  that  of  Teheran, 

*  See  Currency  of  Persia  and  the  United  States. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA. 


303 


has  40  "seers,"  and  the  second  50  "seers."  One  maun  of  40  seers  equals 
Gi  pounds.  Imported  articles  are  weighed  bj^  the  tirst,  while  the  second 
is  the  more  common  and  is  always  used  in  heavy  weights. 

PRICES   OF   THE   NECESSARIES   OF   LIFE. 

The  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life  are  about  as  follows  : 


Articles. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Bread                 .          .        

per  maun.. 

Krg.  Sh. 

Krs.  Sh. 

Krs.  Sh. 
7 

do 

1    12 

0  15 

1  12 
0      2 
0    20 

2      4 

1  10 

2  00 
0    10 
0    10 

2    00 

do... 

1    00 

Kice           

do.... 

1    15 

Fruits         

do  .. 

0      7 

do... 

0      7 

Milk 

do  .. 

0    15 

Flour 

do... 

0      5 
4    00 
0      5 
0      5 
0      6 
25    00 
0    15 

0    14 
6    00 
0    12 
0    14 

0  10 
40    00 

1  00 

0      5 

Oil  lard 

do  ... 

5    GO 

do... 

0      5 

Cracked  wheat 

do... 

do.... 

0    10 
0      8 

Wheat 

perharvar.. 

30    00 
0    18 

Notes.  Onetotwo  "mauns"  consumed  per  day  in  a  family  of  six.  One-quarterof  "maun"  consumed 
per  day  in  family  of  six. 

Bread,  meat,  fruit,  melons,  cheese,  together  with  sout  mil,k,  are  staples  of  diet.  Cracked  wheat  is  also 
eaten,  one-quarter  of  "maun  "  making  a  meal  for  five  persons;  one-half  "maun  "  rice  makes  ameal  for 
five. 

COST   OF   CLOTHING. 

The  rule  for  clothing  is  two  suits  a  year,  costing  from  3  to  6  tomans 
per  suit.  An  average  suit  costs  3  tomans.  A  suit  for  a  woman  costs 
from  3  to  5  tomans,  an  average  suit  costing  about  3  tomans. 

The  cost  of  separate  articles  ranges  as  follows  : 


Articles. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


Hat 

Shirt 

Socks 

Shoes 

Pantaloons 

Coat 

Cloak 

Dress 


Krs.  Sh. 
0  12 
2  00 
0  10 
2  10 
4    10 


12    00 

12    00 

4    00 


Krs.  Sh. 
4  00 
0  00 
0    1& 


20  00 
30  OO 
10    OO 


COST   OF  FUEL. 

For  fuel  these  people  use  fine  charcoal,  which  costs  al)Out  4  shahees 
a  "man,"  and  it  takes  about  50  mans  to  keep  a  fire  during  the  winter 
mouths.  Kent  for  one  room  with  cellar  ranges  from  6  to  8  tomans  a 
year. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING  CLASSES. 


Their  habits  are  good  under  certain  limitations.  Intemperance  among 
them  is  rare.  They  work  well  under  an  overseer,  otherwise  not  well. 
They  are  good-natured.  Lying  and  stealiug  are  not  considered  sinful, 
but  are  habitually  practiced.  They  are  steady  so  long  as  they  are  iu 
need  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  but  when  these  become  satisfied  they 


304  LABOE    IN    ASIA:    PERSIA. 

become  lazy.  Very  few  of  them  are  saving,  since  they  cannot  more 
than  supply  their  wants;  and,  again,  if  they  could  save  anything  it 
would  be  liable  to  be  taken  from  them  by  some  "ferrach,"  who  lives 
on  what  he  can  pick  up  legally  or  otherwise.  But  for  all  this  they  are 
more  peaceable  and  their  habits  better  than  the  higher  classes. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND   EMPLOYE. 

The  employes  feel  well  toward  most  employers,  except  sayyids  (de- 
scendants of  the  prophet),  who  have  a  reputation  of  being  poor  pay- 
masters. 

LABOR  ORGANIZATIONS. 

There  are  no  regular  organizations  of  laborers,  except  as  the  members 
of  a  single  trade  unite,  employes  and  employers,  to  resist  the  Govern- 
ment in  the  imposition  of  excessive  taxes.  On  such  occasions  they 
sometimes  close  their  shops  and  stop  work  until  a  settlement  is  made. 
On  the  other  hand  the  local  authorities  sometimes  close  a  certain  branch 
of  trade  when  it  is  making  good  or  extra  profits,  in  order  to  obtain  a 
tribute,  to  allow  them  to  go  on  with  their  work.  The  general  effect  of 
all  this  is  demoralizing  to  trade  and  checks  prosperity,  though  in  in- 
dividual cases  tbe  laborer  gets  the  benefit  of  carrying  his  point. 

FOOD  PURCHASE  AND  MODE  OF  PAYMENT. 

If  there  are  any  restrictions  on  the  laborer  in  respect  to  the  purchas- 
ing of  the  necessaries  of  life,  they  are  of  minor  importance. 

Day  laborers  are  generally  paid  oft'  in  the  evening  in  the  currency  of 
this  part  of  Persia  ;  others,  according  to  agreements,  in  the  same  cur- 
rency.   I  hear  of  no  co-oiierative  societies. 

STATEMENT   OF   A  HAMADAN   PORTER. 

A  "hammal"  (or  porter)  came  into  my  yard  to-day  on  business,  and 
upon  inquiry  I  obtained  the  following  facts  in  regard  to  his  life : 

He  is  about  thirty-seven  years  of  age ;  has  a  wife  and  three  children, 
the  oldest  being  a  girl  of  eight  years.  He  makes  from  15  to  30  shahees 
per  day,  averaging  about  1  kran.  His  work  is  hard,  and  he  has  about 
twenty  holidays  a  year,  but  no  Sunday.  He  owns  one-half  a  house, 
which  is  worth  about  20  tomans.  He  just  about  makes  ends  meet,  take 
the  year  round.     The  food  for  himself  and  family  is  as  follows : 

Bread  per  day,  1  kran ;  fruit  and  melons  in  their  season,  1  kran  ; 
meat,  0.3  shahee  worth;  oil,  1  "man"*  per  year;  rice,  1  "man"  per 
year;  cracked  wheat,  15  "mauns"  per  year;  sour  milk,  2  "mauns"  per 
month. 

He  spends  on  clothes  for  himself  about  1  toman  per  year,  and  for  his 
wife  and  children  3  tomans  per  year.  Fire  costs  him  about  2  tomans  a 
year.  Bathing  at  public  bath  with  soap  costs  him  about  16  krans  a 
year.    His  case  is  representative. 

E.  J.  HAWKES. 

Hamadan,  Persia,  August  20,  1884. 

*A  inann  of  40  seers  ainoimttj  to  about  G^  pounds  ;  the  liarvar  equals  100  mauus. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CEYLON.  305 

CEYLOX. 

MEPORT  BY  COXSUL  MORET,  OF  COLOMBO. 
LABOR   CONDITIONS  IN   CEYLON   VS.  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Department  circular  of  February  15,  1884,  requiriug  "labor  statis- 
tics," reached  me  somewhat  late,  say  May  17,  1884,  and  I  have  been 
ever  since  to  some  extent  engaged  collecting  materials  for  a  reply. 
The  result,  I  suspect,  in  regard  to  a  bearing  ui)on  industrial  problems  in 
the  United  States  will  prove  iv.signihcant,  as  the  conditions  of  labor 
throughout  the  Orient  are  so  different  from  those  ju'evailing  in  the 
United  States  as  to  be  inconceivable  to  people  who  have  not  observed 
and  carefully  studied  them.  Here  labor  is  a  degradation  imposed 
uj)on  certain  classes  by  ancient  customs  and  unwritten  laws,  as  immu- 
table as  the  "edicts  of  the  Medes  antl  Persians."  Here  the  producers 
of  wealth,  they  who,  delving  in  mines,  abstract  from  the  bowels  of  the 
earth  valuable  minerals,  or  toiling  as  handicraftsmen  and  manufactur- 
ers, fashion  crude  materials  into  forms  of  utility  ;  those  who,  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, plow  the  fields,  sow  the  seed,  and  reap  the  harvest,  all  in  fact  who 
"  earn  their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brows  "  and  contribute  a  fraction 
to  the  world's  utilized  wealth,  are,  and  have  been  from  time  immemorial, 
the  most  inconsiderable  beneficiaries  from  the  results  of  their  own  toil, 
and  mere  ministers  to  the  idle,  greedy,  luxurious  drones  forming  the  so- 
called  superior  castes  and  classes: 

Poverty  in  consequence,  paucity  of  intellect,  want  of  ambition,  and 
an  incapacity  to  comprehend  more  than  the  littlest  things  iu  life,  are 
therefore  so  bred  and  ingraim^d  in  the  veiy  natures  of  the  coolie  peo- 
l)le  at  least,  that  even  the  miserable  pittances  allowed  them  are  or- 
dinarily (juite  as  much  as  they  know  how  to  use  properly,  and  any  en- 
hancement of  their  pay  generally  results  in  demoralizing  them  alto- 
gether. 

It  will  be  difficult  for  an  American  blacksmith  to  comprehend  that 
$2.50  per  week  (scarcely  one  day's  i)ay  for  himself)  is  not  only  the  aver- 
age of  his  Ceylon  fellow-craftsman's  earnings,  but  as  much  as  the  latter 
knows  how  to  expend  proi)erly.     Yet  such  is  tbe  case. 

This  is  the  natural  result  of  the  degradation  of  labor;  though  it  must 
be  said  the  picture  applies  more  to  the  people  of  continental  India,  who 
come  here  in  large  numbers  and  do  most  of  the  coolie  work,  than  to  the 
inhabitants  proper  of  Ceylon,  who  seldom  hire  out  as  common  laborers, 
but  exchange  work  in  agriculture  and  cultivate  the  ground  on  shares  ; 
also  in  the  capacities  of  clerks,  handicraftsmen,  and  domestic  servants, 
monopolizing  most  of  those  pursuits. 

With  them  (the  Singhalese)  caste  restrictions  have  never  been  so  bur- 
densome as  in  India,  owing  mostly  to  their  being  Buddhists,  which  re- 
ligion, in  its  purity,  excludes  all  idea  of  c^iste;  nevertheless,  even  these 
regard  labor  as  a  degradation,  and  avoid  it  by  all  available  means,  al- 
ways considering  that  the  smallest  compensation  possible  is  enough  for 
those  who  work  with  their  hands. 

SCHEDULED   PARTICULARS. 

Schedule  forms  Nos.  I  to  XV,  minus  Nos.  IV- VII  and  XIV,  have  been 

filled  up  from  theinost  reliable  sources;  the  latter  numbers  beingomitted 
on  account  of  there  being  no  such  occupations  here  as  glass-working  and 
92  A— 2  LAB 20 


306  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CEYLON. 

sbip-biiilcliug ;  uor  is  there  any  material  difference  in  the  v^ages  paid  to 
tradesmen  and  hiborers  in  Government  employ  to  what  they  get  pri- 
vately-. 

HOW   THE   GENERAL   TRADES-PEOPLE   LIVE. 

It  appears  per  schednle  I,  that  amongst  handicraftsmen,  gas  fitters 
earning  an  average  of  84.50  per  week,  jewelers  $2  per  week,  black- 
smiths, ijlumbers,  and  brass-founders  $2.50  per  week,  are  as  a  rule  the 
highest  jiaid  of  that  class  of  people,  though  occasionally  a  head  mason 
gets  as  much  as  $3.42  per  week. 

The  lowest  paid  are  the  hatters,  uiostlj'  women,  who  work  at  home  in 
their  villages,  and  earn  from  30  cents  to  50  cents  per  week,  average  40 
cents  ;  just  enough,  in  fact,  to  pay  for  their  simple  clothing  and  a  few 
cheap  ornaments,  these  being  their  only  incentives  to  such  labor,  as 
they  belong  to  families  possessing  small  patrimonies  yielding  a  plain 
livelihood  to  all  the  members  thereof  who  remain  content  to  abide 
by  it. 

The  lowest  average  wage  per  week  for  adult  men*  is  $1,  the  recipient 
of  which  would  generally  be  a  bachelor,  whose  frugal  subsistence  on 
rice  and  curry  costs  50  cents  per  week,  lodging  12^  cents,  making  a 
total  of  02}  cents  per  week,  and  leaving  a  balance  of  27i  cents  for 
clothes,  washing,  and  a  little  arrack,  &c. 

If  the  same  man  happens  to  have  a  wife  she  will  earn  half  or  two- 
thirds  as  much  as  himself  in  various  occupations,  such  as  grass-cut- 
ting, tending  on  masons,  coffee- sorting,  &c.,  besides  keeping  house  for 
her  husband  ;  and  thus  between  them  the  pair  might  save  75  cents  per 
week  for  purposes  exclusive  of  bare  food  and  shelter.  Some  of  the  arti- 
sans, earning  from  $1.00  to  4.50  per  week,  take  advantage  of  their  en- 
hanced emoluments,  to  inhabit  better  houses,  consume  better  food, 
wear  better  clothes,  and  occasionally  drink  gin  or  sour  beer  in  prefer- 
ence to  arrack  or  toddy.  A  good  many,  however,  neglect  to  improve 
their  mode  of  life,  and  instead  patronize  the  gin  and  cheap  beer  afore- 
said to  such  an  extent  that  they  soon  are  unfit  to  earn  even  $1  per 
week  or  anything  at  all.  Then  they  take  to  begging,  and  great  numbers 
of  such  characters  are  now  to  be  seen  in  our  cities,  who,  having  dis- 
carded the  degradation  of  work,  beg  with  an  effrontery  only  to  be 
accounted  for  on  the  principle  that  they  have  abandoned  the  mean 
habit  of  earning  a  living  and  adopted  something  more  honorable,  labor, 
in  the  Asiatic  mind  at  least,  being  counted  meaner  than  begging. 

FOUNDERS   AND   MACHINISTS. 

Schedule  No.  II.  applying  to  a  Government  iron  foundry  and  machine- 
shop,  was  filled  up  authoritatively,  and  denotes  that  artisans  are  not 
more  highly  paid  by  Government  than  by  private  employers.  Mj"^ 
foregoing  remarks  therefore  apply  exactly  to  their  condition.  In  fact,  it 
appears  from  Xo.  Ill,  which  refers  to  the  principal  private  foundry  here, 
that  native  employes  there  are  paid  quite  as  high  an  average  as  those 
emplo3*ed  in  corresi)ouding  situations  by  Governmeut,  and  it  will  be  seen 
throughout  the  whole  ensuing  roll,  from  miners  to  printers,  that,  where 
ever  natives  are  concerned,  their  pay  is  perhai)s  a  twelfth  of  what  people 
correspondingly  employed  in  America  receive. 

*  PIandicTa''tsmen. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CEYLON.  307 

SINGHALESE   AGRICULTURAL   LABOR. 

Respectius:  agriculture,  as  I  have  before  intimated,  the  Singhalese 
seldom  employ  labor  for  fixed  pay,  or  hire  themselves  out  in  that 
manner,  the  custom  rather  being  witli  them  to  exchange  work  in  hus- 
banding their  crops,  or  to  labor  for  a  share  of  same;  and  I  believ'e  it 
has  been  carefully  computed  that  the  absolute  earnings  of  an  ordinary 
farm  laborer  in  Ceylon  do  not  amount  to  over  10  cents  per  diem  ;  though, 
as  most  of  them  are  small  owners,  the  spontaneous  productions  of  their 
little  patrimonies  enable  them  to  live  in  comparative  comfort  and  save 
up  some  wealth. 

COOLIE   LABOR  IN   CEYLON. 

There  is,  however,  a  branch  of  agriculture  under  European  patronage, 
viz,  estate  planting,  in  which  the  laborers,  mostly  emigrants  from 
Southern  India,  are  paid,  or  sui)posed  to  be  jjaid,  by  the  day.  I 
alluded  to  those  in  both  my  annual  reports  for  the  years  1883  and  1884, 
respt'ctively,  and  therefore  have  less  to  write  on  this  occasion.  There 
have  been  in  the  past  probably  as  many  as  500,000  of  these  coolie  people 
in  the  island  at  one  time,  but  that  number  will  be  considerably  reduced 
now,  owing  to  many  having  gone  away  on  account  of  the  partial  failure 
of  the  cotiee  enterprise. 

The  pay  these  coolies  were  popularly  sui)posed  to  get  was  12  cents  per 
diem,  and  throughout  the  year  they  probably  were  given  work  five 
days  per  week,  upon  an  average.  At  this  rate  their  earnings  would 
amount  to  GO  cents  per  week,  and  in  prosperous  times  that  was  about 
the  amount  they  were  paid. 

After  187S,  however,  as  the  cotfee  crops  diminished  so  likewise  did 
the  payments  to  these  people  fall  otf,  until,  in  1883,  Lhe  fact  that  they 
could  scarceh'  be  said  to  be  paid  at  all  became  so  notorious  that  near 
the  close  of  that  year  the  local  government  interfered  and  early  in  1884 
the  labor  laws  were  so  amended  that  those  poor  i^eople  were  enabled  to 
go  into  the  courts  for  their  earnings  with  some  chance  of  obtaining  the 
money. 

The  passing  of  these  new  ordinances  raised  a  terrible  storm  in  plant- 
ing circles,  and  the  parties  responsible  for  their  enactment  got  so  well 
abused  for  their  interference  that  much  which  was  pur[)osed  to  be  done 
in  this  direction  was  abandoned  hy  t'le  executive.  .Enough  was  accom- 
plished, however,  to  give  the  poor  coolies  some  juridical  status,  and 
a  sufficient  sentiment  of  public  shame  was  engendered  to  cause  in  some 
measure  an  alleviation  of  the  hardships  of  a  much  sufCering  laboring 
pojtulation. 

During  the  discussion  of  this  burning  question  of  "  coolies'  pay,"  the 
newspai)ers  were  full  of  correspondence,  pro  and  con,  u[)on  the  subject; 
and  I  interpolate  herewith  one  of  the  most  characteristic  of  the  letters, 
appearing  in  the  Ceylon  Observer,  during  that  period,  together  with 
the  editor's  very  proper  retort  upon  his  correspondent,  merely  adding, 
en  passant,  that  the  luxuries  of  life  the  writer  prates  about  would  be, 
if  they  were  forthcoming,  just  so  much  as  32  cents  per  diem  would  pay 
for,  and  the  equivalent  of  32  Ceylon  cents  is  12  cents  in  United  States 
currenc3\ 

As  a  matter  of  tact,  however,  many  estate  coolies  have  been  getting 
less  than  half  that  sum  as  daily  pay  for  years.  The  "clean  and  water- 
tight shelter,"  so  feelingly  alluded  to  by  the  same  writer,  is,  alas,  gen- 
erally a  vile  hut,  into  which  the  planter  would  not  like  to  put  a  favorite 
horse.    The  bushel  of  rice,  sometimes  supplied  as  almost  the  sole  sus- 


308  LABOR    IN   ASIA:    CEYLON. 

teuance  for  a  month,  costs  about  $1.20;  and  the  "cumblie"  is  an  in- 
describable blanket,  furnisbed  once  a  year,  costing-  27  cents,  and  charged 
for  perhaps  at  50  cents. 

The  privilege  of  going  to  court  for  their  pay,  which  is  so  strongly  ob- 
jected to,  was  simply  a  new  provision  by  which  all  the  laborers  on  an 
estate  might  sue  en  misse,  it  actually  being  the  case  that  it  required 
the  combined  earnings  for  several  months  of  the  whole  gang  to  make 
up  a  sum  sufficiently  large  to  go  to  court  for;  and  tbe  "  three  isolated 
cases,"  so  naivel^^  referred  to,  were,  properly  speaking,  near  three  hun- 
dred. 

[Extract  from  the  Ceylon  Observer  of  Ifovember  24, 1883.] 
coolies'   wages — AND  KG   WAGES. 

Dear  Sir  :  In  your  editorial  of  the  19th  instant  yon  say  the  "  few  inclined  to  cheat 
and  by  the  much  larger  number  who  put  off  payment  hoping  for  better  times  and 
ability  to  pay."  Not  denying  that  there  are  some  inclined  (to  cheat  I  emphatically 
decline  to  believe)  to  put  off  [>a.yraent,  I  ask  you,  is  the  native  who  uevercame  to  Cey- 
lon, and  icho  has  no  money  due  him  bi/  the  estate  better  off  than  he  who  has  ?  Not  he. 
The  estate  laborer  receives  regular  rice,  cumblies,  and  small  advances  in  money,  has  a 
clean  and  water-tight  shelter  over  his  head,  with  medical  officers  to  attend  him  when 
ill,  and  lives  here  contented  and  happy  with  wife  and  children";  does  he  who  "  stays  at 
home"  get  these  advantages?  What  is  hislifeat  his  "  c/(«em(e  ?"  A  dog's  life!  Ask 
any  cooly  you  like — and  "  wages  "  or  "  no  wages"  we  shall  always  have  a  supply  of 
labor  quite  sufficient  for  all  our  wants.  Seeing,  thus,  how  nuich  better  off  the  Cey- 
lon brother  is  to  his  Indian  brother,  I  cannot  agree  with  you  in  wishing  for  further 
legislation  on  his  behalf.  That  for  the  sake  of  three  isolated  cases  facilities  are  to  be 
given  to  a  kaugani  or  his  gang  (with  a  few  months'  pay  due)  of  going  to  law  is,  in  my 
opinion,  absurd;  and  by  this,  the  power  in  the  event  of  any  disagreement  with  the 
proprietor,  of  retaliating  by  putting  him  (tbe  ))roprietor)  into  court  and  placing  him 
in  a  most  undesirable  position  both  as  regards  his  agents  and  estate. 

I  do  not  take  up  my  position,  as  yon  see,  on  moral  grounds,  I  say  that  he  (the  pro- 
prietor and  planter)  who  supports  and  helps  to  supply  so  many  human  beings  with 
the  necessities,  and,  but  for  providential  visitation,  with  the  luxuries  of  life,  should 
liave  some  consideration  shown  him.     With  this,  I  remain,  yours  truly. 

[We  insert  this  as  a  mental  curiosity,  for  the  writer  candidly  states  he  does  not  go 
on  moral  grounds.  Truly  not.  He  agreed  to  give  his  coolies  so  much  per  diem  for 
every  day  they  worked.  He  gives  them  only  part  in  tlie  shape  of  rice,  and  then  says 
to  the  coolies,  "True  you  have  not  got  what  I  promised  to  gis^e  you  and  what  you 
ought  to  get.  but  then  consider  how  much  better  off  you  are  tlian  your  brethren  who 
never  came  to  Ceylon!"  The  poor  devils  could  not  dispute  such  wonderful  logic,  but 
they  could  say :  "  If  we  do  not  get  our  money  balances  we  can  never  go  back  to  see 
how  it  is  with  the  old  folks  at  home  ;  whether  they  are  worse  off  or  better.  Grant- 
ing, what  we  fear,  that  they  are  badly  off,  we  should  like  to  have  our  cash  balances 
to  help  them.  It  was  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  do  so  we  came  to  Ceylon."  Wages 
or  no  wages,  this  wonderful  reasouer  says,  the  planters  will  have  plenty  of  labor  !  If 
our  correspondent  can  get  men  to  agree  to  serve  him  merely  for  rice  advances,  good 
and  well ;  an  agreement  is  an  agreement.  But  so  is  an  agreement  to  pay  32  cents  per 
diem,  and  the  agreement  ought  to  be  kept  or  enforced,  otherwise  coolies  will  ceaso  to 
come  to  Ceylon. — Editor  C.  O.] 

Further  comment  upon  this  subject  is  almost  unnecessary  ;  neverthe- 
less the  fact  should  be  stated  that,  nothwithstanding  all  the  ventilation 
such  matters  luive  received  during  the  last  twelve  months,  the  sys- 
tematic robbing  of  coolies  out  of  their  miserable  pittances  for  years  is 
even  now  regarded  here  as  so  mild  an  offense  that  insolvents,  whose 
indulgence  in  the  practice  was  notorious,  and  who,  during  their  passage 
through  the  conrts,  were  able  to  live  luxuriously,  and  go  rolling  about 
in  gay  equipages,  finally  emerged  from  their  bankruptcy  proceedings, 
with  clean  No.  1  certificates,  and  apparently  were  none  the  worse 
thougiit  of  for  their  heartless  behavior. 

Non-resident  and  absentee  proprietors  are  the  greatest  oftenders  in 
there  matters,  for  they  neither  know  the  coolies  who  cultivate  their 
estates  nor  have  they  any  sympathy  with  tliem,  whereas  resident  pro- 
prietors and  superintendents  generally,  I  believe,  become  tolerably  fa- 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CEYLGN. 


309 


miliar  with  their  people  and  too  solicitous  of  their  welfare  to  mulct  them 
willingly  of  any  ])art  of  tlieir  small  eainiiigs.  ]\Iost  of  the  latter  class, 
however,  are  in  the  liaiids  of  their  agents,  who,  ha\  ing  advanced  them 
funds,  want  their  "  pound  of  tiesh"  hack,  and,  as  planting  has  not  beeii 
profitable  lately,  tiunncial  embarrassment  is  common;  consequently 
many  jieople  have  failed  to  pay  their  laborers  who  fain  would  have  done 
otherwise. 

Keferring  again  to  the  "Observer''  article,  it  is  a  significant  fact  that 
the  people  in  Southern  India,  from  v\hom  the  estate  laborers  in  Ceylon 
are  drawn,  and  who  that  writer  states  are  in  worse  i)light  thau  their 
miserably  paid  brethren  here,  are  likewise  under  British  rule,  though 
not  in  European  employ. 

W.  MOKEY, 

Consid. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Colombo,  Ceylon,  December  5,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  iceek  of  fifty-three  hours  in  Ceijlon. 


Occnpations. 

1  Lowest. 

i 

Highest 

Average. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

$'> 

04 
85 
42 
54 
31 
60 
50 
54 
40 
45 
50 
75 

80 
30 
85 
75 
85 
50 
75 
75 
70 
75 
00 
00 
00 
00 
30 
00 
50 
00 
25 
40 
50 
50 
00 
00 
00 
20 
85 
00 

$2  31 
85 

3  42 
85 

2  31 
75 

1  50 
85 

2  60 

1  45 

3  42 

0  00 

2  40 

3  42 

1  20 
3  37 

1  50 
3  42 
3  50 
3  50 

2  30 

5  00 
1  50 
1  50 
1  50 

1  50 
50 

3  00 
3  50 

2  00 

2  50 

6  50 
9  00 

3  50 
3  00 
2  50 
2  00 
2  40 

1?  50 
1  50 

$2  25 
85 

'          3 

3  42 

75 

1          •"> 

2  31 

T.-ndeiB' 

I 

68 

i          1 

1  50 

Teudeis* 

75 

Plum  bers 

2 

2  50 

'          1 

1  45 

Caipeiiters 

1 

1  60 

Gas-filters 

3 

4  50 

OTIIEU  rnADES. 
Bakers    

1 

1  95 

IBLickstniths 

2 

2  50 

Strikers  

1 

1  00 

Book-liiiiders 

1  00 

Brick-makers .     

1  25 

Buti-lieis    

1          1 

2  00 

1 

2  50 

1 

2  25 

1 

2  00 

Distillers 

''           3 

4  00 

1)1  i  vers 

I 

1  '5 

1 

1  25 

1 

1  25 

Gardeners  

1 

1  25 

Hatters  (women) 

40 

o 

2  25 

Jewclei  8 

2 

3  00 

Laborers,  porters,  &o 

Pott  ers 

I          1 

1  75 
1  75 

Printers 

3  50 

1          2 

5  00 

Smltll    and  harness  makers 

Sailinakers 

9 

2  75 
2  25 

Stevedores 

o 

2  25 

1 

1  75 

Tailors 

1 

1  50 

Telejiraph  operators 

...    .              .           3 

5  87 

1          1 

1  25 

1 

*Boys,  old  men,  and  women. 


310  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CEYLON. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  the  Government  factory,  Colomio. 


Occupations. 

Highest. 

Lowest. 

Average. 

Fitters 

$5  62 
6  75 
5  62 
5  62 
5  62 

3  38 

4  50 

$0  84 
84 
1  24 
1  13 
1  13 
1  09 
1  13 

$1  69 
1  69 

Smiths 

1  69 

1  40 

1  69 

Pattern-makei  s 

2  25 

Cabinet-makers 

1  69 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

JTcujes  paid  per  ireel'  of  ftfty-e'ujM  hours  in  foundries,  machine-shojis,  and  iron  icoi'lca  in 

Colombo. 


Occnpations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Native: 

$1  20 

1  20 

60 

15  00 
11  50 
11  50 

$7  20 

4  80 

70 

30  00 
25  00 
25  00 

$2  50 
2  C) 

75 

European: 

23  00 

20  00 

20  00 

V.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  and  in  connection  ivith  plumbago  mines. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Foremen .. 

$2  40 

1  20 

90 

60 

$2  40 
2  40 
1  80 
1  40 

$2  40 
2  00 

Tnnnelers 

Pitmer 

1  50 

Carriers 

1  00 

VI.  Railway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  employe's  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  jvell  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  cj'c). 


Occupations. 


European  locomotive  foremen per  annum 

European  enjriiiedrivers do  . 

European  firemen    do.. 

European  foremen  platelayers do. . 

Euroj)ean    plate-laying  overseers do.. 

Native  sbntitiiig  engine-drivers do. . 

Kative  firemen do. . 

Native  patrols do. . 

Native  plate-layers do.. 

Native  litters do.. 

Head  eariieiitc^rs  do.. 

Car]i(-iitei.s do.. 

Time-keepers do.. 

Storenicu do. . 

Engine-turners per  day 

Engine-lighters do.. 

Engine-cleaners do.. 


Lowest. 


$1,  200  00 
575  00 
288  00 


244  00 

"oo'oo 


:,o  00 

90  00 

240  00 

74  00 

192  00 

108  00 

CO 

28 

17 


Highest. 


$1,600  00 
960  00 
384  00 


384  00 
'i30'66 


60  00 

420  00 

420  00 

240  00 

384  00 

264  00 

60 

50 

40 


Average. 


$1,  400  00 

750  00 

335  00 

864  00 

250  00 

360  00 

120  00 

74  00 

55  00 

200  00 

300  00 

120  00 

250  00 

175  00 

GO 

39 

20 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CEYLON. 
Wages  pa\d  to  railway  emploiji^^,  <^-c. — Coutiuued. 


311 


Occupations. 


PuinpinK  engine-men per  day . 

Pumpers do. .. 

Coppcrsniitlis     do. .. 

Head  blacksmiths do... 

Blaik.smitlis do. .. 

Painters do. .. 

Pattern-makers do ... 

Ai)preutice8 do... 

Machinists do. .. 

Boih'r  washers do . . . 

Moldcrs do. .. 

Stationary  engine-men do... 

Stokers do . . . 

Saddlers do... 

Trimiuei's do... 

Caiiiage examiners ...do. . . 

M  asous do.. 

Cauganies(gang  overseers) do. . . 

Laborers  do... 

Carriage  cleaners do. .. 

Carriage  greasers do . . . 

Gate  men per  annum. 

Watchmen per  day . 


Lowest. 


$0  40 
17 
1  30 
1  20 
30 
34 
50 
20 
20 
60 
35 
30 
25 
50 
35 
40 
25 
30 
07 
17 
20 

60  00 
20 


Highest. 


$0  40 
40 
1  30 
1  20 
1  00 
60 
70 
40 
30 
60 
50 
30 
25 
50 
60 
140 
60 
60 
20 
20 
20 

60  00 
20 


Average. 


$0  40 
20 
1  30 
1  20 
60 
35 
60 
23 
25 
60 
41 
30 
25 
50 
47 
80 
35 
40 
14 
18 
20 

60  00 
20 


Cf.yi.os  Goveunment  Eailway, 

Engineer's  Dki'aktment, 

Colombo,  2d  Juhj,  1884. 


ED.   STRONG, 

Jtesidcnt  Engineer. 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  {officers  and  men),  distinguishing  between  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

European  sailing  vessels  and  steamers. 

$60  00 
30  00 
20  00 
12  00 
12  00 
12  00 
6  00 
6  00 
6  00 
6  00 

10  00 
6  00 
4  00 
3  00 

$80  00 
55  00 
40  00 
36  00 
20  00 
20  00 
12  00 
12  00 
10  00 
12  00 

32  00 
8  00 
6  00 
4  00 

$70  00 
40  00 

30  00 

15  00 

Cooks      - 

16  00 

Stewards 

16  00 

Seamen 

10  00 

Native  boatmen 

10  00 

Native  sailors  . . 

8  00 

Native  cooks .   _.   . .          

10  00 

Masters 

Native  coasters,  saiiimj. 

11  00 

Mates 

7  00 

Sailors 

5  00 

Cooks 

3  50 

IX.  Stoke  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  in  stores,  uholesale  and  retail,  to  males  in  Colombo. 


Occupations. 


Europea'n  general  assistants 

Burgher  general  clerks 

Native  general  clerks 

Coolies  Tor  store  w^ork 


Lowest. 


$57  75 
3  85 
3  85 
3  85 


Highest. 

$192  50 
38  50 
19  25  , 
5  27 

Average. 


$115  87 

19  25 

9  77 

4  82 


312  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CEYLON. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages jioid j^er  month  to  household  servants  {fowns  and  cities). 


Butlers 

Cooks 

Nurses 

General  helps  , 

Coachmen 

Grooms 

Gardeners 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


$4  10 
3  50 

3  50 

2  50 

4  10 

3  50 
8  00 


Highest. 

$8  20 

5  00 

6  50 

4  10 

10  00 

4  10 

6  00 

Average. 


$5  00 
4  10 

4  50 
3  50 

5  00 

3  80 

4  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  da  >j  to  agricitlturalJahorers  in  the  Central  Province  {Ceylon),  tvithout  board. 


Occupation. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$0  05 

$0  15 

$0  12 

*  This  is  what  they  are  popularly  supposed  to  get,  hut  during  the  last  five  years  they  prohahly  have 
not  received  half  of  even  so  small  an  amount. 


XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  the  corporation  emjjloycs  in  the  municipal  city  of  Colombo. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Secretary  of  the  council 

Clerks 

$2,240  00 

do 

$9G  00 

$800  00 

300  00 

Sanitary  officer 

Gas  inspector 

Superintendent  of  roads 

do 

1,200  00 

do 

1,200  00 

do 

3,  000  00 
150  00 

do 

Minor  overseer 

per  day.. 

do 

30 
10 
14 
30 

60 
20 
20 
60 

35 
15 

do  ... 

17 

do... 

40 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  p>aid  per  annum  to  employes  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of 
tradesmen  and  laborers,  in  surreyor-generaVs  depeirtment. 


Occupations. 


Chief  surveyor* 

District  surveyors* 

Assistant  suivoyors*  

Extra  assistant  surveyors*. 
Clerks  and  draughtsmen  t .. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$2,  000 

$3,  200 

1,  300 

2,000 

438 

1,  -277 

146 

920 

219 

1,  277 

Average. 


$2,  dOO 

1,650 

858 

350 

500 


'  European. 


t  Burghers  and  natives. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    THE    PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 


313 


Statement  ^howixf/  the  uaf/eH  paid  per  day  to  printers  {compositors,  pressmen,  jjroof -leaders, 
tfc.)  on  the  Ceylon  Observer,  Colombo. 


Occupations. 


Proof-readers 

Picce-woik  compositors  (first  class)... 
Pii'ce-work  conijjosiiors  (second  class) 

Fixed  coiiii)ositors 

Volunteer  compositors  (apprentices)  . 

Pressmen 

Foremen 


Lowest. 

Highest 

$0  60 

$3  00 

2  50 

4  50 

1  80 

2  50 

2  00 

4  20 

40 

1  00 

60 

2  00 

5  DO 

6  50 

Average. 


$3  00 
3  50 

2  25 

3  00 
65 

1  12 
5  85 


THE   PHILIPPINE   ISLA:N^DS. 


REPORT  BY  COXSUL  YOIGHT,  OF  MANILA. 

lu  reply  to  tlio  labor  circular  issued  by  your  Department,  dated  15th 
February  last,  I  have  tbe  houor  to  address  the  tollowiog  i)reliminary 
remarks : 

The  Philippines,  with  a  population  of  about  6,500,000,  are  still  in  a 
very  primitive  state,  there  being,  counting  Spaniards  and  their  de- 
fecendants,  less  than  l!0,000  white  foieiguers  to  be  met  with. 

The  natives,  a  Malay  race,  ])eacefal  and  frugal  enough,  are  yet  decid- 
edly below  the  average,  both  iu  their  physical  and  intellectual  endow- 
ment, and  do  not  begin  to  co-u])are  in  that  respect  with  the  Chinese, 
who,  to  the  number  of  perhaps  35,000,  form  the  only  element  of  real  la- 
boring industry  in  these  regions.  Owing  to  the  tropical  climate,  added 
to  a  wonderful  fertility  of  the  soil,  the  simple  wants  of  the  native  race 
are  easily  satisfied,  who,  moreover,  shun  exertion  and  disclaim  ambi- 
tion. 

The  hardly-concealed  contempt  of  all  foreigners,  Spaniards  particu- 
larly, towartls  these  people  does  not  lend  to  render  them  more  willing 
laborers,  and,  althougli  actual  servitude  does  not  exist,  yet  the  condi- 
tion olten  resembles  enforced  obedience.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  here- 
abouts the  female  intellect  is  so  much  above  that  of  the  male  popula- 
tion, that  in  matters  of  business  the  women  are  conceded  the  lead,  and 
acquit  themselves  with  credit;  bu^  they  never  perform  hard  or  any  un- 
becoming labor,  such  as  other  Indian  or  even  more  advanced  nations 
exact. 

Under  the  above  circumstances  it  will  serve  but  little  purpose  to  fur- 
nish data  for  laborer  and  wages  in  comparison  with  those  obtaining  in 
civilized  countries  or  even  regulated  communities.  For  what  is  not  in 
its  crude  state  here  is  but  slightly  and  artificially  removed  therefrom. 
For  instance,  should  the  f-w  foreigners  and  the  industrious  Chinese 
quit  these  islands  nothing  would  prevent  iheir  speedily  retrograding 
into  dullness  and  stupid  stagnation. 

I  therefore  have,  in  the  accoini)anying  schedules,  confined  myself  to 
an  approximate  outline  of  cuireut  wages  in  Manilla  and  vicinity,  dis- 
claiming all  intention  to  be  able  thereby  to  contribute  towards  the  labor 
statistics  invited  bv  the  circular  of  15th  February. 

JULIUS  G.  VOIGHT. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Manila,  September  1,  1884. 


314  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    THE    PPIILIPPINE    ISLANDS. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wag es  paid  per  week  of  fifUj-fonr  to  seventy-two  hours  in  Manila, 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


UUILDING    TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons 

Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Slaters  

Roofers 

Tenders 

riiimbers 

A  ssistants 

Carpenters 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Balvcrs 

Blacksmiths 

Strikers 

Bouk  binders   

Brick-makers 

Butchers 

Brass-founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers 

Distillers  

Drivers 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab' and  carriage 

Street  railways 

Dyers 

Engravers 

Gardeners 

Hatters 

Horseshoers , 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Lithographers 

Nail-makers  (hand)  

Potters 

Printers 

Teachers  (public  schools) 

Saddle  and  harness  makers 

Sail-maliers 

Stevedores 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Telegraph  operators 

Tinsmiths   

"Weavers  (outside  of  mills) 


$3  62 

2  25 

3  75 

2  25 

3  75 

2  25 

3  75 
3  75 

2  25 

3  75 
2  25 

4  50 


3  00 

4  50 
4  50 
6  00 

2  25 
4  50 
9  00 
4  50 

3  00 

4  50 
6  00 
4  50 
2  25 
4  50 

2  25 

3  00 

4  50 
9  00 
1  90 
4  50 

4  50 

5  00 

3  00 

4  00 
3  00 

3  00 

4  50 
3  00 
3  00 

3  00 

4  50 
4  50 

6  00 
4  50 
4  50 
4  50 


$6  00 
3  00 
6  00 
3  00 
6  00 
3  00 
6  00 
6  00 
3  00 
C  00 
3  00 
6  00 


4  00 

18  00 

6  00 

9  00 

3  75 
6  00 

15  00 
9  00 

4  50 
6  00 

10  00 
6  00 

3  50 
6  00 

4  50 
6  00 
6  00 

18  00 

3  00 

6  00 
9  00 

12  00 

4  00 

7  00 
6  00 
6  00 

8  00 

5  00 
(i  00 

6  00 

9  00 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 


.$4  00 
2  50 
5  00 
2  50 
5  00 
2  50 
5  00 
5  00 
2  50 
5  00 
2  50 
5  00 


5  00 
12  00 
7  00 

4  00 

5  00 
7  00 
5  00 
3  00 
5  00 
3  50 
5  00 
5  00 

12  00 

2  50 

5  00 
7  00 

10  00 

3  50 

6  06 
5  00 

5  00 

6  00 

4  50 

5  00 
5  00 

7  00 
7  00 
7  00 
7  00 
7  00 
7  00 


KOTES. — Consul  Voight  has  computed  his  wage-rates  in  Spanish  dollai-s^r  96  cents  American. 

Average  wages  for  common  laborers  are  5  reales  =  62^  cents  per  diem,  and  all  the  skilled  labor  here 
is  foreign,  excepting  Chinese  mechanics.  No  female  labor,  except  .seamstresses  and  cigar-makers. 
The  average  cost  of  living  for  native  ordinary  laborers  amounts  to  about  $200  per  annum  for  one  family. 

II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  iveek  of  serentij-two  hours  in  faetories  or  mills  in  Manilla. 


Occupations. 


Highest.    Average. 


Kope-makers . . 
Sugar  refiners. 


$G  00 
5  00 


$4  00 
4  00 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    THE    PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS.  315 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sei'entij-two  hours  in  foundries,  machine  shops,  and  iron  worls   in 

Manilla. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest   Average. 

$9  00 

$18  00 

$10  00 

Y.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  serenty-two  hou7-s  in  and  in  connection  u-itk  gold  ynines  in   the 

rhilippines. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.     Highest. 


Miners 


$2  25  $6  00 


Note. — There  is  but  one  gold  mine  in  the  PhiUppines.    No  silver  mining  and  very  little  coal,  which 
being  of  poor  quality  is  neglected. 

YII.  Ship -YARDS  and  ship -building. 

Wages  jyaid  per  week  of  seventy -two  hours  in  ship-yards  {wood  shijj-huilding)  in  Manilla. 


Occupations. 


Various  grades 


Lowest.  Highest. 


$4  50  $6  00 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  7nonth  to  seamen  {officers  and  men)  distinguishing  hetween  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  hetween  sail  and  steam,  in  Manilla. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Native  boatmen 

$18  .50 

$22  ."JO 
15  00 
50  00 

$20  00 
10  00 

Native  coasting  sailors  . . 

'           7  00 

Toreign  sailors 

1        1 5  on 

1(5  00 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  in  retail  and  wholesale  stores  to  males  in  Manilla. 
[Per  week  of  seventy-two  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Male  employment  in  retail  stores per  week. 

Clerks  in  wholesale  stores per  annum . 


Lowest.    Highest. 


$3  00  $7  50 

1,  500  00     5,  000  00 


Average. 


$4  00 
2,  500  00 


316  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    THE    PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month,  and  found,  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities)  in  Manilla. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$4  00 

$10  00 

30  00 

40  00 

4  00 

6  00 

4  00 

10  00 

4  00 

10  00 

Average. 


House  servants  . 
Cooks  (Chinese). 
Coolis  (native)  .. 

Coachn)en 

Gardeners 


$5  00 

30  00 

5  00 

5  00 

5  CO 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  the  Philip- 
pines. 


Occupations. 

Lowest.     Highest. 

Average. 

Iiaborers • 

10  50 

$1  50 

.$0  50 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Manilla,  1884, 
[Office  hours  from  8  a.  m.  to  1  p.  ni.] 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

"Various  grades 

$600  00 

$2,  500  00 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  to  employ^  in  Government  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of 
Iradesmen  and  laborers,  in  Manilla. 

[Office  hours  from  8  a.  m.  to  1  p.  m.  | 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Various  grades $600  00 


Highest. 


$5,  000  00 


Xy.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  showing  the  wages  ^jaid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  io  printers  {compositors,  press- 
men, proof-readers,  ^-c.)  in  Manilla,  1884. 


Occupations. 


Printers,  various. 


Lowest. 


$5  00 


Highest. 


$12  50 


Average. 


$6  00 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  317 

JAP  AX. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL-OHNJERAL  VAX  BURES. 

Refemn<>-  to  the  Department's  "  Labor  Circular"  of  the  loth  of  Feb- 
ruary last,  addressed  to  all  the  consuls  of  the  United  States,  I  beg 
res])ectfully  to  refer  to  my  report  upon  the  subje(;t,  dated  October  6, 
1880,  and  published  in  the  Department's  Consular  lieports,  No.  2,  of 
November,  1880,  which  is  exhaustive,  and  which  I  beg  may  be  included 
in  any  general  publication  the  Department  may  contemplate  making  up 
from  the  reports  irom  other  consulates  when  received. 

THOS.  B.  VAN  BUEEN, 

Consul- General. 
United  States  Consulate  General. 

Kanagaica,  Japan,  April  25,  1885. 


LABOR  IN  JAPAN.* 
[Republished  from  Consular  Reports,  No.  '2,  for  November,  1880.] 

In  all  historic  times  the  subject  of  labor  and  the  condition  of  the  la- 
borer have  been  of  the  first  importance.  In  later  ages,  since  trade  and 
commerce  have  multiplied,  population  increased,  wealth  and  accumu- 
lated capital  in  a  few  hands,  the  question  has  been  comi)licated  by  that 
of  the  relations  which  should  exist  between  cajiital  and  labor,  and  now 
that  steam  and  electricity  are  bringing  all  nationalities  and  races  into 
close  and  active  competition,  the  subject  has  received  added  impor- 
tance. 

In  all  the  countries  of  the  civilized  world  this  topic  is  agitating  the 
public  mind,  and  is  being  discussed  in  the  halls  of  legislation,  in  the 
busy  marts  of  trade,  ou  the  great  money  changes,  in  the  homes  of  the 
artisans,  and  in  the  huts  and  hovels  of  tlie  humblest  toilers.  All  sys- 
tems of  government  and  all  organizations  of  society'  on  every  continent 
and  on  the  far-off  islands  of  the  ocean  are  disturbed  by  this  question 
and  its  portending  conflict. 

In  view  of  this  a  full,  accurate,  and  comprehensive  account  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  laborers  of  any  race  or  country  is  of  more  than  passing  im- 
portance. The  following  statement  of  the  status  of  labor  in  a  new  and 
comparatively  unknown  land  cannot  fail,  therefore,  to  be  of  interest: 

It  is  now  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  since  Perry  opened  the  sealed 
gateways  of  Japan  to  the  conimerce  and  travel  of  the  world.  The  unique 
civilization  of  an  island  eini)ire,  with  an  area  of  150,000  square  miles  and 
more  than  35,000,000  of  people,  was  then  first  presented  to  modern  times 
for  stuii^'  and  investigation.  Since  that  time  libraries  of  books  and 
pam[)hlets  and  volumes  of  letters  have  been  written  ui)()n  every  phase 
of  that  civilization,  except  the  status  and  condition  of  the  laborer.  Of 
the  im[)()rtance  and  i)ower  of  35,000,000  of  people  as  added  factors  in  the 
products  of  the  world  there  can  be  no  question. 

In  this  paper  I  shall  refer  briefly  to  all  facts  that  seem  to  me  to  aflfect 

*  Cuu.siil-Geiieral  V^aii  Biiren  ackiiowleil^es  tlie  valuable  assistance  of  Dr.  H.  La- 
tham, formerly  vicc-cousul-general  at  Shanghai,  in  the  preparatiou  of  this  report. 


318  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

to  any  appreciable  extent  the  condition  of  the  laboring  population  of 
Japan,  believing  that  such  information  will  be  found  vahiable  to  the 
economist,  statesman,  or  ])hilanthro])ist,  who  shall  make  the  happiness 
of  mankind  his  study.  The  topograi)hy,  soil,  climate,  laws,  religion, 
government,  education,  moials,  hntmces,  and  means  of  transportation, 
as  well  as  the  prices  of  labor  and  living,  all  have  an  influence,  directly 
or  indirectly,  upon  the  condition  of  the  laborer,  and  are  all,  therefore, 
legitimate  subjects  of  study  in  this  connection. 

LATITUDE  AND  LONGITUDE  OF  JAPAN. 

The  islands  of  Japan  extend  along  the  eastern  coast  of  Asia,  from  the 
31st  to  the  4Gth  parallels  of  north  latitude,  and  from  the  130th  to  the 
145th  degrees  of  east  longitude.  It  is  estimated  that  these  islands  con- 
tain from  150,000  to  1(30,000  square  miles,  or  once  and  a  half  the  area  of 
the  British  Isles. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Through  the  center  of  this  island  chain  is  one  long  mountain  range,  with 
spurs  of  lesser  elevation  running  at  right  angles.  Interspersed  tlirough 
all  these  mountain  masses  are  innumerable  fertile  valleys,  through  which 
the  drainage  of  the  whole  area  finds  its  way  to  the  sea.  Along  either 
coast  are  extensive  alluvial  plains,  the  weatherings  and  washings  of  the 
mountains  during  untold  centuries.  The  crests  of  the  higher  mountains 
are  rocky  and  precipitous,  but  as  the  spurs  slope  away  toward  the  sea 
they  present  gentler  hill-sides  susceptible  of  tillage.  It  is  on  these  allu- 
vial plains  along  the  sea,  through  these  fertile  valleys  and  on  the  gentle 
mountain  slopes,  that  the  laborer  is  to  be  found.  Both  the  eastern  and 
western  coasts  present  deep  indentations  of  gulfs  and  bays  extending 
far  into  the  mainland. 

SOIL. 

For  all  the  purposes  of  this  paper,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  soil, 
with  which  the  laborer  of  Japan  lias  to  deal,  is  a  black,  vegetable  mold, 
from  2  to  10  feet. in  depth,  superimposed  upon  a  deep  clay  subsoil. 
This  mold  is  a  mass  of  decomposed  vegetation,  grown  luxuriantly  in  a 
warm  summer  climate,  combined  with  a  great  rain-fall.  It  is  a  true 
humus,  with  an  excess  of  humic  acid,  which  renders  its  fertile  elements 
more  or  less  insoluble.  Even  in  its  virgin  state  this  black,  rich-looking 
soil,  without  some  chemical  solvent,  will  not  produce  a  paying  crop,  but 
with  lime  or  potash  every  product  of  the  latitude  grows  luxuriantly. 

WATER. 

Draining  the  great  mouutain  range  and  its  spurs  is  a  system  of  rivers 
and  canals,  furnishing  abundance  of  clear,  pure  water.  Excellent  wells 
can  be  had  almost  everywhere  on  the  lower  levels  for  the  digging. 

CLIMATE. 

I  shall  nof  attempt  to  give  the  full  meteorology  of  this  country,  as 
the  temperature  and  rain-fall  will  be  sufficient  for  our  purposes. 

Temperature. — In  Yokohama,  in  latitude  35°  46',  observations  have 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  319 

been  made  for  nine  years.     The  following-  are  the  monthly  and  anuual 
means  of  temi)erature: 

Fahr. 

January 39.2 

Ftibriiary 42.2 

March 46.0 

April 54.  7 

May G4.6 

Juno 71.  G 

July 78.  7 

Au<>u,st 79.  4 

Scptfinber 70.2 

OctobiT .59. 8 

November 49. 5 

December 47.  5 

Annual  moan .57.  7 

The  highest  temperature  for  these  nine  years  was  93°,  and  the  lowest, 
21°.     The  absolute  range  of  mercury  was,  therefore,  72°. 

Rain  f((U. — The  average  precii)itation,  as  observed  at  the  same  place 
and  about  the  same  time,  was  as  follows : 

Inches. 

January 4. 23 

Febr II  ary 4.  22 

March 3.19 

Ai>ril 5,84 

May : 4.3:J 

June 10.17 

July : 3. 15 

August <J.  62 

September 12.05 

October 6.  14 

November 8.  67 

December '2.  56 

Annual  rain-lall 71. 17' 

The  greatest  amount  of  snow  which  has  fallen  at  Yokohama  for  one 
year  is  15  inches.  The  highest  annual  precipitation  since  foreign  trade 
with  this  country  was  iu  1868,  being  122  inches,  and  the  smallest  amount 
in  18C7,  being  42  inches. 

The  following  table  shows  the  average  number  of  rainy  days  for  each 
month  in  the  year: 

Januiiry 4.42 

February 6.28 

March 8.  42 

April 9.72 

May 8.  42 

June ..11.28 

July ■ 10.00 

August 9.28 

September 11.  85 

October 7.00 

November (5.  57 

December 4.  28 

Average  rainy  day.s  per  year 97.  52 

POPULATION.  ' 

The  population  of  Japan,  as  shown  by  the  census  of  1878,  is  between 
35,000,000  and  30,000,000,  but  as  full  tables  of  that  census  are  not  as  yet 


320  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

available,  I  Lave  been  compelled  to  resort  to  those  of  the  census  of  two 
years  earlier.     The  population  at  that  time  was  33,300,675. 

Number  of  the  higher  and  lower  nobility 1,  894,784 

Common  people 31,  405,  8'Jl 

Number  of  males  of  whole  population   16,  891, 729 

Number  of  females  of  whole  i}oj)ulatiou Ki,  408, 94(3 

Number  of  farmers,  males 8,  004,  014 

Number  of  farmers,  females 6,  86K,  412 

14,870,42G 

Number  of  mechanics,  males 521, 295 

Number  of  mechanics,  females 180, 121 

701,416 

Number  of  merchants,  males 819,  782 

Number  of  merchants,  females 489,  409 

1,309,191 

Mixed  occupations,  males 1,  218,  2()6 

Mixed  occupations,  females 911,256 

2, 129, 522 

Total  producing  yjopulation 19,  010,555 

Of  children  under  fourteen  years  of  age  there  were 9,  056,  309 

GOVERNMENT. 

The  Government  of  Japan  up  to  186S  was  absolute  and  irresponsible, 
with  an  emperor  at  its  head,  who  held  all  authority  by  divine  right, 
and  who  ruled  through  a  number  of  feudal  princes,  at  whose  head  stood 
the  Shogun  (Tycoon). 

The  laborer  ha"d  no  privileges,  except  such  as  his  immediate  prince 
conceded.  He  was  absolutely  under  the  control  and  in  the  power  of  his 
feudal  lord  and  that  lord's  retainers. 

There  were  no  courts  for  the  trial  of  causes  which  might  arise  between 
him  and  his  superiors.  The  jjosition  of  the  laborer  was  so  immeasura- 
bly below  that  of  the  ruling  class  that  it  was  as  much  as  his  life  and 
liberty  were  worth  to  even  petition  his  prince  or  ai)peal  to  the  Shogun 
or  Emi)eror  against  any  act  of  the  upper  classes.  The  common  people 
were  bouud  to  the  soil,  and  could  not  leave  it  without  i)ermission.  Their 
lives  even  were  in  the  hands  of  their  immediate  superiors,  and  fancied 
insolence  or  insubordination  was  sufficient  justification  for  taking  them. 
The  Government  divided  the  people  into  five  general  classes,  as  follows: 

1.  Military  and  official :  this  class  included  the  Emperor  and  his  blue- 
blooded  nobility,  the  Tycoon  and  the  Daimios,  and  their  retainers. 

2.  Farmers  who  held  land  under  lease. 

3.  Artisans. 

4.  Merchants  and  bankers. 

5.  Laborers,  or  the  cooly  class. 

There  was  the  widest  gulf  between  the  first  class  and  all  the  others. 
The  latter  had  no  rights  which  the  first  class  were  bound  to  respect. 

Tn  1808  the  Government  was  essentially  remodeled.  The  feudal  sys- 
tem was  abolished  ;  the  feudal  lords  were  pensioned,  and  their  power 
taken  from  them  and  assumed  by  the  central  government. 

Although  the  laborer  had  no  voice  in  the  making  and  execution  of  the 
laws  he  has  been  materially  benefited  by  the  change.  A  system  of 
courts  has  been  established,  wherein  he  can  l)e  heard  against  even  the 
highest  classes.  He  can  claim  the  intervention  of  these  courts  to  insure 
the  i)ayment  of  his  wages,  which  he  could  not  do  under  the  old  organi- 
zation. 

A  vast,  burdensome  system  of  men-at-arms,  with  absoliste  authority, 
has  been  set  aside,  the  old  division  of  the  people  abolished,  and  all,  in 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  321 

the  eyes  of  the  law,  niaile  of  the  same  class.  Of  course,  tbe  pnwer  and 
influence  of  the  old  class  system  is  still  felt,  and  will  be  for  3'ears;  but 
it  must  ijradually  die  out,  and  thus  the  laborer  will  be  on  equal  ground 
with  all.  One*  ])eculiar  feature  of  the  old  absolutism,  however,  stdl  ex- 
ists. I  refer  to  the  police  surveillance  of  all  the  peoi)le.  The  bjini)ire  is 
divided  into  districts,  called  ken  and  fu,  over  ea  -h  of  which  is  placed 
an  officer,  known  as  the  "ken  rei"  or  "  fuchiji,"  rendered  in  En<;iish, 
"governor."  At  the  office  of  this  official  every  native  resident  must  be 
registered,  and  lie  or  she  cannot  remove  to  another  ken  without  writ- 
ten permission  first  obtained;  and  upon  arrival  at  destination,  he  or  she 
must  be  immeiliately  registered  there.  And  so  strict  is  this  supervis- 
ion that  a  Japanese  cannot  travel,  or  even  sleep,  out  of  his  district 
without  permission  of  the  authorities.  A  block  of  every  ten  houses  has 
its  supervising  officer,  and  each  hundred  a  superior  official,  keeping 
watch  and  wanl  over  the  movements  of  the  occui)ants,  so  that  any  change 
or  movement,  even  for  a  day,  is  immediately  known.  And  this  interfer- 
ence by  the  Government  is  not  contined  to  the  movements  of  the  people, 
but  extends  to  all  their  trades  and  industries.  Monopolies  ure  granted 
to  certain  parties,  either  of  trade  or  transportation,  and  the  (rovern- 
ment  itself  often  becomes  a  purchaser  and  seller  in  the  market. 

LAND   TENURE. 

All  the  land  of  the  Empire  was  the  Emperor's.  Through  the  Shogua 
(Tycoon)  it  was  granted  to  the  military  favorites  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  military  power.  These  favorites  leased  it  in  small  divisions  to 
farmers,  who  hi-ld  it  at  the  pleasure  of  the  lessors.  So  long  as  the  lessee 
paid  the  stipulated  price,  in  produce,  he  was  left  undisturbed.  Such 
was  the  land  tenure  up  to  1868.  Since  that  time  the  feudal  institu- 
tions have  been  abolished,  the  land  tenure  has  been  changed,  and  the 
land  has  been  sold,  and  is  held  in  fee  simple.  This  great  reform  has 
infinitely  bettered  the  condition  of  the  farmer.  About  three-tenths  of 
all  tilled  land  is  now  in  the  possession  of  small  proprietors,  the  balance 
being  hehl  in  larger  divisions. 

ORGANIZATION   OF   DO.MESTIC   SOCIETY. 

Society  was  here,  as  elsewhere  in  Asia,  essentially  patriarchal.  The 
pater  famUias  had  almost  unlimited  control  overall  the  members  of  the 
family.  The  whole  course  of  life  of  a  child  was  marked  out,  shaped,  and 
controlled  by  the  father.  Marriages  were  entirely  within  his  author- 
ity. No  son  or  daughter,  no  matter  of  what  age,  could  leave  the  pa- 
ternal roof  and  go  out  into  the  world  without  the  parental  consent. 
Among  the  lower  classes,  daughters  were  sold  by  their  parents  to  be 
concubines,  or  to  be  trained  as  singing  or  dancing  girls,  or  for  immoral 
purposes,  or  they  were  mortgaged  for  a  term  of  years  to  labor. 

When  a  girl  left  the  house  of  her  parents  and  entered  another  as  a 
wife  or  concubine,  all  tbe  allegiance  due  to  her  parents  was  transferred 
to  her  husband  or  master  and  his  parents.  She  could  be  divorced  and 
sent  away  Irom  her  children  at  the  will  of  the  husband  and  his  family. 

Much  of  this  power  of  the  pater  familias  has  been  done  away  with, 
but  his  authority  is  still  incomparably  greater  than  in  any  Western 
society. 

RELIGION. 

The  religion  of  the  imi)erial  families  is  Shintoism,  or  the  worship  of 
the  country  or  Emi)ire  through  its  heroes  or  great  men.     That  of  the 
great  mass  of  peoi)le  is  Buddhism ;  not  that  of  India,  but  a  system 
92  A— 2  LAB 21 


322  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

grafted  upon  the  original  Pagan  worship,  and  retaining  much  of  the 
gross  superstitions  of  the  hitter. 

The  common  people  not  only  believe  in  the  Buddhistic  deities,  but 
also  in  the  demons  and  evil  spirits  of  Paganism.  These  religious  beliefs 
and  superstitions  affect  directly  the  condition  of  the  laboring  classes. 
The  belief  in  shrine  cure  prevails  everywhere  with  them.  The  result  is 
a  large  number  of  blind  and  diseased  i)ersons,  who,  if  they  had  been 
properly  medicated  in  time,  would  be  healthy  producers  instead  of  bur- 
dens upon  societ}'.  Large  numbers  of  children,  when  sick,  are  carried 
to  the  favorite  shrine  instead  of  to  the  doctor,  and  thus  mortality  and 
the  number  of  physically  weak  aud  diseased  people  are  largely  in- 
creased. 

The  priesthood,  although  less  than  formerly,  is  still  a  mighty  power 
with  the  lower  classes,  and  the  income  of  shrines  and  temples,  although 
materially  reduced,  is  still  immense  aud  a  most  oppressive  burden  to  the 
people. 

EDUCATION. 

The  education  of  the  higher  classes  was  in  former  times  Chinese. 
The  literature,  philosoi)hy,  and  science  (if  it  can  be  said  that  there  was 
any  true  science)  were  all  Chinese.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  among  these 
higher  classes  there  was  no  illiteracy ;  all  could  read  and  write.  Nearly 
all  of  the  other  classes,  although  not  learned,  could  also  read  and  write 
enough  for  their  business  pur^wses.  There  were,  of  course,  exceptions, 
but  of  the  male  farmers  and  artisans  not  10  per  cent,  were  illiterate. 
Schools  were  to  be  found  in  the  larger  towns  of  the  provinces  aud  in 
many  of  the  smaller  villages.  Where  schools  were  not  available,  read- 
ing and  writing  were,  in  some  measure,  taught  in  the  household. 

It  must  be  understood  that  what  is  denominated  as  education  here 
is  not  education  in  the  sense  the  term  is  used  in  Europe  and  America, 
and  especially  in  recent  times.  The  most  highly  educated  man  in  Japan 
knew  some  thousands  of  Chinese  characters,  a  few  books  of  the  Chinese 
classics,  the  books  of  ceremonies,  and  some  of  the  truisms  and  proverbs 
of  the  Chinese  sages,  and  could  write  impromptu  poetry  in  Chinese  char- 
acters. He  need  not  know  the  history  even  of  his  own  country,  much 
less  that  of  any  other.  He  had  absolutely  no  knowledge  of  anything 
worthy  the  name  of  science.     In  art,  he  might  paint  aud  draw. 

The  lower  classes,  in  place  of  this  Chinese  culture,  knew  just  enough 
arithmetic  to  serve  their  daily  use  aud  could  read  and  write  in  the 
Japanese  characters.  There  was  some  knowledge  of  Japanese  history, 
mixed  up  with  the  marvellous,  gleaned  from  books  or  the  traveling 
story-teller,  who,  bj"  the  roadside,  recited  to  gaping  crowds  the  stories 
of  the-wars  and  amours  of  the  olden  times. 

The  whole  system  of  education  has  been  remodeled  since  18G8.  Pub- 
lic schools  have  been  established  and  scientific  text-books  from  Europe 
and  America  have  been  translated  and  brought  into  use.  Probably  the 
percentage  of  illiteracy  has  not  been  much  reduced  by  these  reforms, 
but  the  scientific  learning  of  the  West  has  largely  taken  the  place  of  the 
useless  proverbs  and  superstitions  of  the  East.  It  is  safe  to  say  that,  at 
the  present  rate  of  educational  progress,  another  decade  will  see  a  use- 
ful education  within  reach  of  every  Japanese  laborer. 

The  report  of  the  minister  of  education  for  the  year  1879  shows : 

Number  of  elementary  schools 25,  459 

Number  of  teachers 59,  825 

School  population 5, 251,  807 

Scholars 2,066,566 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  323 

The  i)er  cent,  of  scholars  to  scliool  population,  therefore,  seems  to  be 
about  30. ;3.  There  are  381)  schools  of  a  lii^her  ^rade  with  910  teachers 
and  ii0,5ii2  scholars.  There  are  9(5  normal  schools  with  706  teachers  and 
7,949  scliolars.     There  exist  also  two  so-called  universities. 

The  whole  amount  of  school  exi)eiuliture,  as  shown  in  said  rei)ort,  was 
5,304,870  yen,*  of  wiiich  2,040,0lM)  yen  were  paid  in  salaries,  the  salary 
of  each  teacher  being"  an  average  of  44.72  yen  per  year. 

Public;  libraries  have  been  opened,  one  of  which,  at  Tokio, has  about 
70,000  volumes. 

Medical  science  and  education. — The  health  and  welfare  of  the  laborer 
and  his  family  everywhere  are  largely  affected  by  the  system  of  medicine 
prevailing,  and  by  the  intelligence  of  the  members  of  the  profession. 
An  intelligent  S3'stem  of  medicine,  a  high  standard  of  admission  to  its 
practice,  with  low  fees,  give  a  lower  percentage  of  mortality,  a  higher 
physique,  and  fewer  lame,  blind,  and  deaf. 

The  tirst  system  of  medicine  that,  in  any  degree,  took  the  place  of 
ahrine  cure  was  the  Chinese,  which  had  no  claims  to  be  a  science,  and 
was  full  of  ignorance,  superstitions,  and  absurdities.  The  system  had 
no  knowledge  of  anatomy,  physiology,  pathology,  chemistry,  or  the  prop- 
erties or  actions  of  medicines.  This  was,  and  is  the  old  school  of  medi- 
cine in  Japan.  Upon  it  was  built  a  new  system  by  the  introduction  of 
Dutch  medical  text-books,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  which  struggled 
for  supremacy  with  the  Chinese  school  for  two  hundred  years. 

Although  this  was  an  improvement  upon  the  old  ])ractice,  the  latter 
continued  to  embrace  the  most  numerous  followers  and  to  receive  the 
confidence  of  the  laboring  classes,  whenever  they  emancipated  them- 
selves from  the  superstitions  of  the  shrine  cures  of  the  priesthood. 

When  the  country  was  opened  to  foreign  intercourse,  modern  medi- 
cine was  introduced.  Within  the  past  ten  years  a  medical  college  has 
been  established  in  Tokio,  and  all  the  local  or  ken  governments  have 
opened  hospitals,  with  a  foreign  surgeon  for  each  and  a  class  of  medical 
students. 

These  local  schools  were  necessarily  inefficient,  as  no  one  man  is  fitted 
or  has  the  time  to  teach  all  the  branches  of  medicine  and  surgery,  but 
with  the  text-books  and  the  clinics  of  the  hospital,  a  better  class  of 
practitioners  than  the  country  has  ever  had  before  has  been  sent  out. 
I  know  of  no  means  of  arriving  at  the  number  of  practitioners  of  these 
several  schools  in  the  whole  Empire. 

In  this  ken  or  province  of  Kanagawa,  in  which  this  consulate-general 
at  Yokohama  is  situated,  there  are  059  practicing  physicians;  of  these, 
41  are  students  of  the  new  schools  and  hospitals,  106  of  the  old  Dutch 
school,  and  512  of  the  Chinese  school. 

The  ])opulation  of  this  ken  is  now  (1880)  about  500,000.  This  gives 
one  physician  to  760  people.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  ken 
contains  the  principal  foreign  port  and  has  had  a  hospital  for  years, 
with  a  foreign  surgeon,  and  is  within  20  miles  of  the  medical  college 
in  Tokio.  In  the  interior  [  do  not  think  there  is  more  than  one  physi- 
ian  to  every  1,500  people,  and  tlie  old,  ignorant  Chinese  method  pre- 
ponderates more  largely  than  here. 

MORALS. 

It  is  difficult  to  write  of  the  morals  of  the  Japanese  people  in  such 
manner  as  to  make  the  subject  entirely  intelligible  to  the  Western 
reader.     The  habits  and  customs  of  centuries  in  which  the  relations  of 


The  Japanese  yen  =  $0  99.7. 


324  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

the  sexes  iu  this  country  have  beeu  looked  upon  so  difif'erently  to  those 
to  which  we  have  been  accustomi  d,  have  created  a  code  of  morals,  if 
the  term  be  permissible,  fiom  which  morality,  in  this  connection,  ha» 
been  excluded.  The  relation  of  master  and  concubine  is  here  consid- 
ered perfectly  proper,  and  neither  party  loses  caste  or  res[)ectability. 

After  marriage  the  wife  is  expected  to  be  true  to  her  husband,  and  ifc 
seldom  happens  that  she  fails  in  this  duty.  As  mothers,  Japanese  wo- 
men are  models.  None  can  be  kinder  or  more  attectionate  to  their  chil- 
dren than  they.  They  will  spare  no  pains  to  amuse  or  instruct  them^ 
and  seldom  use  force  to  compel  obedience  or  punish  faults.  As  wives, 
these  women  are  simply  slaves  to  the  humors  and  caprices  of  their  hus- 
bands and  the  families  of  their  husbands.  They  have  absolutely  no 
rights,  and  are  often  subjected  to  seeing  the  attention  of  their  lords 
transferred  to  some  favorite  concubine,  to  whom  tliey  are  obliged  to  be 
considerate  and  respectful. 

Bathing  together,  by  both  sexes,  in  public  bath-houses,  in  a  state  of 
nudity,  is  practiced  everywhere,  but  rudeness,  vulgar  language,  or  in- 
decent gestures,  in  these  places,  are  uever  indulged  in. 

As  has  been  seen  in  the  statistics  of  population,  the  males  in  Japan 
greatly  exceed  in  number  the  females,  and,  iu  consequence  of  this  fact, 
and  the  additional  one  of  concubinage,  so  largely  practiced,  the  number 
of  unmarried  men  among  the  laboring  class  is  very  large.  These  per- 
sons frequent  houses  of  prostitution,  and  spend  much  of  their  earnings 
also  in  gambling  and  drinking.  It  must  be  said,  however,  that  drunk- 
enness is  exceptional,  especially  among  the  better  class  of  laborers. 

The  strong  drink  is  "sake,"  a  distilled  spirit  made  mostly  from  rice, 
of  about  the  strength  of  ordinary  table  sherr  y. 

The  Japanese,  like  all  Eastern  peoples,  are  somewhat  given  to  exag- 
geration in  their  speech,  and  their  intense  suavity  and  politeness  to 
each  other  is  proverbial. 

MEANS  OF   TRANSPORTATION. 

The  islands  of  Japan  are  long  and  narrow.  There  is  no  point  in 
the  center  of  the  larger  islands  more  than  100  miles  from  navigable 
water.  Cheap  ocean  transportation,  is,  therefore,  everywhere  easily 
available.  On  the  alluvial  plans  of  the  eastern  and  western  coast,  be- 
sides the  tidal  rivers,  there  exists  an  extensive  system  of  canals.  In  the 
interior,  in  former  times,  there  wi^s  no  general  system  of  roads  worthy  of 
the  name.  It  is  true,  theTokugawa  Tycoons,  and  some  of  the  Daimioa 
had  built  a  few  roads,  but  they  were  illy  adapted  to  carriage  traffic,  and, 
iu  places,  were  entirely  impassable  except  for  footmen  and  pack  horses. 
Aside  from  these  roads,  built  for  war  purposes,  the  only  means  of  travel 
were  mere  footpaths. 

Now  two  short  lines  of  railway  have  been  built,  in  all  less  than  100 
miles,  Home  of  the  footpaths  have  been  made  wide  enough  for  car- 
riages, but,  in  the  whole  of  Japan,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  there  are  nofc 
more  than  1,000  miles  of  carriage  roads.  From  and  to  the  interior 
districts  all  the  products  and  all  articles  of  trade  are  carried  on  the 
backs  of  men  or  horses.  Such  carriage  is  slow  and  costly  and  ruinous 
to  both  producer  and  consumer.  As  a  tax,  it  bears  heavily  on  the 
shoulders  of  labor,  and  will  do  so  until  better  roads  are  built  by  the 
Government.  iSo  much  man-packing  is  not  only  laborious,  but  de- 
grading.    It  prevents  production,  consumption,  and  trade. 

The  building  of  good  roads  and  the  providing  of  cheap  transporta- 
tion must  be  a  condition  precedent  to  the  settlement  and  development 
of  the  wild  lands  of  the  country. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  325 

IJy  sea,  river,  and  canal  tlie  means  of  transportation  are  reasonably 
good  and  clieai).  Lines  of  steamers  and  sailiiij^  vessels,  of  foreign  con- 
struction, have  been  established  to  all  the  i)rincipal  ports  of  the  country. 
The  fleet  of  vessels  owned  by  one  coui])any,  the  Mitsu-Bishi,  represents, 
in  ronnd  numbers,  a  gross  tonnage  of  r)(),()()0  tons.  This  company  has 
had  the  cou^itenance  and  support  of  the  Government;  its  tleet  Is  being 
constantly  increased  and  the  service  rendered  more  effective. 

In  addition,  there  are  many  smaller  companies  in  Tokio,  Osaka,  and 
Nagasaki,  which  run  steamers  and  sailing  vessels,  of  foreign  style,  to 
some  of  the  smaller  ports.  Some  of  these  smaller  steamers  are  Japanese 
built,  and  although  not  of  the  best  construction,  give  promise  that  in 
time  Japan  will  be  independent  of  foreign  countries  in  ship  building. 

There  are  no  means  available  for  giving  accurate  data  as  to  the  num- 
ber and  tonnage  of  the  old  style  of  native  sailing  vessels,  known  as 
"junks."  The  gross  tonnage  must  be  very  large.  They  run  along  the 
coast  to  and  from  all  the  ports,  and  give  cheap  service,  much  cheaper 
than  steam  or  foreign  sailing  vessels. 

Latterly  loud  complaints  liave  been  made  of  the  interference  by  the 
Government  with  these  vessels  in  the  interests  of  the  steam  monopolies. 
Experience  will  certainly  compel  an  abandonment  of  such  attempts, 
which,  if  persisted  in,  must  disastrously  affect  both  the  Government  and 
people. 

As  bearing  upon  the  question  of  inland  transportation  of  the  products 
of  labor,  the  statistics  of  the  number  of  cattle  and  horses  of  both  Japan 
and  the  United  States  may  be  properly  inserted  here,  so  that  the  con- 
trast may  be  seen. 

In  Japan,  her  35,000,000  people  have  90l),274  horses  and  814,324  cat- 
tle. In  the  United  States,  in  1870,  the  38,000,000  people  had,  in  round 
numbers,  10,000,000  horses  and  nuiles  and  2(3,000,000  cattle.  This  will 
show  what  burdens  the  laborer  here  has  to  carry  on  his  back,  and  what 
unnecessary  calls  are  made  upon  his  earnings  in  the  way  of  carrying  his 
products. 

Mails. — Tlie  mail  transportation  that  has  been  established  within  the 
last  ten  years,  both  coastwise  and  inland,  is  cheap  and  excellent.  The 
number  of  miles  of  mail  routes  aggregates  36,052.  The  number  of 
post-offices  is  3,927.  The  number  of  letters  carried  for  the  year  ending 
June  30,  1880,  was  55,775,200,  and  tliat  of  newspapers  11,203,731.  These 
figures  throw  great  light  upon  the  volume  of  business  of  the  country 
and  the  amount  of  reading  and  writing  done  by  the  people. 

Connected  with  the  postal  department  is  a  well  organized  postal 
nu)iiey-order  service  and  postal  savings-bank  system.  The  number  of 
these  banks  is  595, 

TENEMENTS. 

In  forming  an  opinion  of  the  tenements  of  the  laborer,  the  climate  of 
the  countiy  must  be  borne  in  mind.  Although  there  are  unliuiited 
quantities  of  good,  durable  building  stone  everywhere  in  the  mountain 
ranges,  and  vast  deposits  of  firm  clay  for  making  brick,  no  stone  or  brick 
houses  are  built.  The  frequency  and  severity  of  earthquakes  make  the 
use  any  but  wooden  structures  impracticable.  Timber  is  scarce,  and 
there  is  notliing  worthy  the  name  of  forests  except  in  a  portion  of  Yesso, 
in  the  far  north. 

Al  buildings,  or  nearly  all,  are  one  story,  and,  compared  to  those  of 
America  and  Europe,  small.  But  the  reader  must  bear  in  miud  that  the 
requirements  of  tliis  oriental  civilization  aro  less  thau  with  us.  A  labor- 
er's house  here  will,  at  mast,  have  no  more  thau  four  little  roams.     Gen- 


326  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

erally  there  is  one  main  room,  wLicb  serves  as  a  sittings,  dining',  and 
sleeping  room,  and,  in  addition,  a  small  nook  for  cooking  and  another 
for  bathing.  That  the  uses  of  one  room  for  the  purposes  of  eating,  sit- 
ting, and  sleeping  may  be  understood,  it  should  be  explained  that  the 
rooms  are  covered  with  clean  sok  mats,  upon  which  no  boot  or  shoe  ever 
treads.  When  meals  are  served,  small  tables,  not  more  than  one  foot 
high,  are  used,  and  the  family  sit  on  the  floor  like  tailors  on  their  benches. 
When  the  meal  is  finished  the  table  is  removed  and  the  room  is  ready 
for  a  sitting-room,  the  mats  serving  as  seats.  At  night  cotton  com- 
forters are  brought  from  a  small  clothespiess  and  spread  on  the  mats, 
and  lo !  a  sleeping  chamber.  Thus,  much  of  the  room  lequired  by  a  la- 
borer of  our  Western  civilization  is  saved.  A  Japanese  laborer's  house 
with  three  rooms  can  be  built  for  from  25  to  200  yen.  And  the  furniture, 
including  matting  and  sliding  partitions,  will  not  exceed  50  yen. 

The  house,  by  reason  of  non-use  by  the  people  of  boots  and  shoes,  i& 
neat  and  clean.  The  bath,  found  in  almost  every  laborer's  house,  is  in 
daily  use,  and,  cheaj)  and  small  as  the  house  is,  it  is  comfortable. 

None  of  the  houses  are  built  with  a  view  to  ventilation  or  warmth, 
the  partitions  and  sides  being  of  j)aper,  protected  in  cold  weather  or 
storms  by  strong  wooden  shutters.  The  vast  majority  of  the  houses  are 
thatched,  and  therefore  stove  pipes  and  chimneys  are  impossible.  In 
fact,  there  are  no  stoves  or  grates  in  Jajian.  In  villages  and  towns 
the  house  is  warmed,  if  at  all,  by  a  small  firebox  filled  with  charcoal, 
but  more  generally  by  a  square  zinc  or  coi)per  lined  fire-])lace,  sunk  in 
the  middle  of  the  floor,  in  which  wood  is  burned,  the  smoke  from  which 
rises  and  escapes  through  a  hole  in  the  roof.  But  little  heat  is  gene- 
rated in  this  way,  and  much  discomfort  from  the  smoke  is  experienced, 
and  diseases  of  the  eye  are  prevalent. 

Asa  rule  the  principal  protection  from  cold  is  by  additional  padded 
clothing.  The  laborer,  however,  suffers  in  the  three  winter  months, 
when,  although  in  many  parts  of  the  Empire  the  thermometer  does  not 
mark  very  low,  the  cold  storms  of  snow  and  rain  are  exceedingly  un- 
comfortable. 

The  drainage  from  sinks  and  cess  pools  in  the  vicinity  of  tenements 
is,  as  a  rule,  extremely  defective,  and  is,  doubtless,  a  powerful  agent  in 
producing  epidemic  diseases. 

In  1875,  when  the  population  was  33,300,675,  there  were  7,389,371 
houses  or  tenements,  the  average  number  of  occupants  to  each  being, 
therefore,  less  than  5.  In  Tokio  the  number  is  4;  in  Kanagawa  ken, 
4.5;  iS^agasaki  ken,  4.7;  Fukushima  ken,  5.5;  Miyaga  ken,  5.9;  Awamori 
ken,  5.8  ;  Osaka  City,  3.7. 

The  houses  of  cities  seem  to  be  less  crowded  than  those  of  the  poorer 
rural  districts. 

FUEL. 

The  fuel,  which  is  used  chiefly  for  cooking  and  heating  baths,  is 
charcoal,  cut  and  split  wood,  brush  and  dried  grass. 

Charcoal  is  mace  in  the  wooded  regions,  burned  in  small  clay  pits,  and 
carried  to  the  settlements  on  the  backs  of  men  and  horses  in  straw  sacks. 
The  selling  i)rice  varies  according  to  the  distance  from  which  it  is  brought, 
from  25  to  50  cents  i)er  100  i)ounds.  Cut  wood  is  sold  in  small  bundles 
of  six  sticks,  each  stick  being  about  18  inches  in  length,  and  2  inches 
in  diameter;  80  to  100  bundles  are  sold  for  $  1.  1  am  quoting  the  rates 
of  districts  remote  from  the  foreign  settlements. 

Brush  and  dried  grass  are  gathered  from  the  wild  lands,  to  which 
certain  rights  of  commons  attach,  as  in  England  in  early  times.     Tho 


LABOR    IN   ASIA:    JAPAN.  327 

value   of  the   fuel    boufjht   and  sold  in  1875  was  as  follows:  Wood, 
$0,107,974;  cliarcoal,  $2,210,980. 

As  the  farmer  and  country  laborer  gets  his  fuel  from  his  own  land  or 
from  the  con\mons,  this  must  have  been  mostly  used  in  the  larger  vil- 
lages and  cities,  showing  how  little  is  consumed  for  house  warming  even 
by  the  richer  classes. 

FARMERS. 

As  has  been  said,  the  farmer,  under  the  old  system  of  classes,  ranked 
next  to  the  samurai  or  governing  class.  In  the  new  order  he  holds  the 
same  i)osition  in  i)ublic  opinion  and  general  estimation.  He  is  now 
owner  of  the  soil  he  tills,  and  is  taxed  according  to  its  producing  ca- 
pacity. 

The  kocho,  or  village  officer,  in  all  agricultural  villages,  has  always 
been  a  leading  farmer,  and  some  villages  had  and  still  have  the  right  to 
choose  this  officer.  He  had  little  more  than  a  general  supervision  of 
village  affairs.  He  settled  petty  disputes,  maintained  the  peace,  kept 
the  register  of  the  inhabitants,  granted  traveling  permits,  arrested 
thieves,  and  was  a  general  advisor  of  the  Tillage. 

Within  the  past  two  years  the  Government  has  taken  a  step  which  has 
greatly  enhanced  the  position  and  influence  of  the  landholder.  A  de- 
cree has  been  promulgated  by  which  local  election  assemblies  have  been 
created,  the  electors  of  which  are  confined  to  such  of  the  landholders 
as  pay  at  least  $10  land  tax. 

At  present  the  power  of  these  assemblies  is  only  deliberative  and  ad- 
visory. The  governor  of  the  province  submits  his  fiscal  estimates  for 
local  expenditures  and  they  examine  and  pass  upon  them.  If  they  dis- 
agree with  him  the  whole  matter  goes  to  the  General  Government  for  its 
decision. 

Although  these  assemblies  possess  no  legislative  power,  they  contain 
the  germ  of  representative  local  self-government.  The  system  needs  to 
be  extended  so  as  to  include,  among  the  representatives,  intelligent  peo- 
ple of  all  classes,  and  to  have  the  powers  now  exercised  materially  in- 
creased. That  this  consnmmation  will  be  achieved  is  almost  certain, 
Nor  will  reform  in  this  direction  stop  here. 

The  agitation  pervading  all  classes  in  Japan  in  favor  of  a  national 
re|)resentative  assembly  is  manifested  daily  in  petitions  to  the  Emperor 
and  his  ministers,  in  conferences  and  lectures,  and  in  newspaper  com- 
munications and  editorials.  The  question  is  so  prominent  and  the  deter- 
mination to  achieve  success  so  universal,  that  the  genro-in,  the  deliber- 
ative and  advisory  council  of  the  Empire,  is  now  said  to  be  taking  itinto 
serious  consideration,  and  probably  the  country,  before  the  lai)se  of  many 
years,  possibly  months,  will  find  itself  in  possession  of  some  such  cham- 
ber, wlu'rein  the  views  of  all  the  people  maybe  ]n'esented  and  discussed, 
and  laws  for  their  welfare  enacted.  That  it  will  be  entirely  free  to  act 
as  its  niembcrs  may  be  inclined  is  not  probable,  and  it  may  be  a  matter 
of  doubt  if  such  freedom  would  at  present  be  wise. 

Farmers  in  Japan  have  no  seasons  of  rest  as  in  colder  climates,  the 
climate  in  nearly  all  portions  of  the  country  being  so  mild  in  winter  as 
to  admit  of  raising  the  hardier  crops. 

A  considerable  percentage  of  the  landowners  are  not  workers,  large 
numbers  of  the  tea,  silk,  rice,  tobacco,  and  sugar  raisers  being  able  to 
em{)loy  laborers  for  that  i)urpose. 

Almost  every  farmer  can  read,  write,  and  keep  his  farm  accounts. 
He  sends  his  sons  to  some  school  to  learn  the  same,  and  has  his  daugh- 
ters taught  music  and  needle-work  at  home. 


328  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

All  labor  on  a  farm  is,  to  the  i)reseut  time,  mere  hand  work.  A  plow 
is  seldom  seen.  Sometimes  in  the  lowland  rice  fields  an  implement  5 
feet  in  length  with  a  wooden  cross  piece  and  depending  iron  teeth  20 
inches  in  length,  set  4  or  5  inches  apart,  is  used  with  a  horse  as  a  pul- 
Terizi  r  of  the  soil,  after  the  latter  has  been  thoroughly  dug  up  and 
worked  over  with  a  mattock.  Ninety  nine  i>er  cent.,  however,  of  all  labor 
is  still  manual.  In  1878  the  number  of  farmers,  out  of  a  population  of 
35,000,000,  was  something  over  15,500,000,  of  which  over  7,000,000  were 
women  ;  but  as  a  large  number  of  these  latter,  including  the  old  and 
young,  are  engaged  in  household  duties,  spinning,  weaving,  making 
clothing,  &c.,  there  were  i)robably  not  more  than  two  or  three  millioa 
women  employed  in  field  work. 

The  area  of  land  in  actual  cultivation  in  the  whole  Empire  in  1875  was 
about  12,000,000  acres,  so  that  to  the  actual  farming  population  there 
were  only  three  quarteis  of  an  acre  per  head.  The  tillage  is  of  the  most 
thorough  order.  Two  crojis  are  invariably  raised  each  year,  so  that  the 
producing  capacity  of  the  area  cultivated  is  double  that  of  the  number 
of  acres  named. 

The  wages  of  an  able-bodied  farm-hand  are  about  $35  per  year  with 
board,  and  without  board,  $50.  Per  day,  with  board,  it  will  not  average 
more  than  15  or  20  cents.  Female  labor  is  much  cheaper.  To  do  work 
in  a  house  or  on  a  farm  stout  healthy  women  are  engaged  at  from  $8  to 
$10  per  year  with  food,  and  without  food  from  $25  to  $30,  and  by  the 
day  at  from  10  to  15  cents.  The  number  of  hours  of  labor  will  not  aver- 
age more  than  9  and  ])robably  not  more  than  8. 

The  Jai)anese  farmer  is  an  easy  task-master,  and  treats  his  hired  la- 
borer with  great  kindness.  In  ordinary  farming  there  is  little  skilled 
labor,  but  in  tea,  silk,  and  sugar  cultivation  and  prei)aration,  skill  and 
experience  are  required,  and  are  paid  higher  prices.  A  good  tea-firer 
on  a  tea  plantation,  or  a  silk-winder,  receives  double  the  wages  of  the 
unskilled  laborer. 

Food. — The  food  of  a  farm  laborer  is  almost  entirely  vegetable.  It 
consists  of  rice,  barley,  or  wheat,  millt^t,  beans,  peas,  turnips,  potatoes, 
onions,  carrots,  and  a  few  other  vegetable  i)roducts.  In  some  districts 
rice  is  too  high  in  price,  and  only  barley,  turnips,  and  millet,  with  some 
few  additions,  are  used.  On  rare  occasions  the  laborer  may  eat  an  egg 
or  chicken  and  some  cheap  fish,  but  he  is  essentially  a  vegetarian.  Re- 
ligion, custom,  popular  prejudice,  and  price  forbid  the  use  of  animal 
flesh. 

(Jlothrncj. — Tiie  clothing  of  the  farm-laborer  in  summer  is  little  more 
than  nature  sent  him  into  the  world  with  ;  in  winter,  a  cotton  garment 
or  two  is  worn,  with  straw  sandals  or  wooden  clogs.  The  whole  cloth- 
ing of  a  year  will  not  cost  more  than  $4  or  $5. 

Holidays. — Several  holidays  are  allowed  each  year,  such  as  religious 
festivals  and  family  celebrations.  When  a  man  and  his  wife  work  for 
yearly  wages  they  will  receive,  without  board,  about  $75.  From  this  he 
has  to  i)ay  from  $8  to  $10  for  a  two  or  three  small-roomed  house,  and 
buy  clothing  for  a  family  of  four  or  five,  amounting,  perhai)s,  to  $20. 
He  will  have  a  small  garden  with  his  house,  Irom  which  one-half  of  his 
living  is  produced  ;  a  lew  chickens  and  ducks,  tended  by  the  children, 
will  buy  many  articles  of  necessity  or  of  ornament  for  holiday  use;  a 
child  of  six  or  seven  years,  perha])s  with  a  babe  of  six  months  strapped 
on  its  back,  will  gather  brush  or  dried  grass  on  the  commons  for  fuel; 
and  by  great  frugality  in  eating,  and  scrupulous  care  of  clothing,  at  the 
end  ot  a  year  he  finds  he  has  sup[)orted  his  family,  had  several  enjoya- 
ble holidays,  and  has  a  few  dollars  hidden  away  in  some  secret  jdace. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  329 

Tadi'S.* — The  average  goveninient  tax  of  low  irrigable  rice-laud  is 
$5  i)er  acre.  The  average  value  of  sucli  lauds  is  8-JOO  per  acre.  The  land 
tax  is  therefore  2h  per  cent. ;  this  is  tlie  goveruiucnt  assessmeut ;  that 
for  local  i)urposes  is  i  per  cent.,  making-  3  per  cent,  in  all. 

Rice  culture. — The  average  value  of  the  jjroduct  of  rice-land  is  about 
$40  i)er  acre.  Four  or  five  acres  of  lowland  rice  liehls  form  quite  a  re- 
spectable holding  for  one  person.  This,  with  another  acre  or  so  of  up- 
land where  vegetables  are  raised,  and  a  little  bluff  land  for  timber,  fuel, 
and  grass  to  feed  the  pacl<-liorse,  supports  his  family,  pays  for  hired 
help,  an«]  gives  a  little  surplus  at  the  annual  settling  day. 

The  homes  of  the  rice,  silk,  and  tea  farmers  are  the  best  of  all  the  agri- 
cultural laborers  in  Ja})an.  Tiie  house  is  often  as  large  as  30  or  40  feet 
square,  universally  one  story,  thatched  roof,  strongly  built,  vritli  veranda 
in  front,  and  tive  or  six  rooms,  one  being  kept  as  a  spare  or  reception 
room.  If  built  with  a  view  to  light  and  warmth,  they  would  compare 
in  comtbrt  with  the  average  Is'ew  England  farmhouse. 

Rice  is  grown  in  all  of  the  sixty  provinces  of  Japan.  The  whole  area 
in  cultivation  in  1878  was  about  (),oOO,00()  acres,  and  the  i)roduct  was 
180,000,000  bushels.  This  includes  upland  as  well  as  lowland  rice,  the 
average  yield  of  all  being  about  30  bushels  per  acre.  On  low  laud  the 
yield  will  average  40  bushels. 

The  total  value  of  the  rice  product,  as  returned  to  the  home  depart- 
ment in  1878,  was  $202,521,750. 

Wheat. — Wheat  is  grown  in  all  parts  of  the  empire.  The  product  in 
1878  was  38,000,000  bushels,  valued  at  $19,0011,000. 

Barley. — The  climate  and  soil  are  everywhere  favorable  to  the  growth 
of  barley.  The  product  in  1878  was  60,000,000  bushels,  valued  at 
$30,000,000. 

Millet,  beans,  peas,  tOc. — The  value  of  these  products  for  the  same  year 
was  returned  as  $10,007,300. 

The  value  of  all  other  vegetables  was  $10,849,023,  and  of  seeds  and 
fruits,  $8,217,798. 

Tobacco. — The  produ(;t  of  tobacco  was  about  90,000,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $7,500,000.  A  considerable  quantity  was  exported  to  England  and 
Geiniany.  The  quality  is  inferior  and  the  price  low,  but  much  higher 
than  ten  years  ago,  averaging  about  8^  cents  i)er  pound. 

'Tea. — The  lea-culture  is  one  of  the  most  important  and  lucrative  of  all 
Japanese  industries,  the  leaf  being  one  of  the  chief  articles  of  export. 
The  product  in  1878  was  about  00,000,000  pounds.  The  export  trade 
has  increased  wonderfully.  In  1809  the  amount  exported  was  4,8911,430 
pounds;  in  1875,  22,384,A93  jtounds  ;  in  1879,33,092,391  pounds;  and 
that  of  18S0  is  estimated  to  reach  38,000.000  i)ounds. 

As  has  been  remarked,  the  tea  farmer  lives  in  a  comparatively  good 
house,  has  servants,  keeps  a  horse  to  do  his  packing,  and  has  a  balance 
to  his  (;reilit  at  the  end  of  a  good  year. 

The  best  tea  grows  on  the  liillsides,  sheltered  from  the  sea  wiuds, 
which  latter  make  the  leaf  tougii  and  of  bad  flavor. 

The  ordinary  labor  wages  are  paid  for  the  tillage  of  the  soil,  but  the 
man  who  trims  the  plant  must  bo  skilled,  and  will  get  as  high  as  30  to 
35  cents  i)er  day.  The  tea-i)i(;klng  is  done  by  women  and  girls  and  re- 
quires care.  When  they  work  by  the  day  they  get  from  10  to  12i  cents. 
Tea  rollers  and  firers  in  the  country  must  be  skilled,  and  they  command 
from  15  to  30  cents  per  day.  In  the  open  ports  tea-tiring  is  done  en- 
tirely by  women,  who  are  paid  about  15  cents  per  day. 

'As  to  general  taxation,  see  Table  B,  Apj)endix. 


330  LABOR   IN   ASIA:    JAPAN. 

In  the  export  of  tea  there  is  einplo.ynient  for  a  large  number  of  car- 
penters in  making  boxes,  printers  and  lithographers  in  the  manufacture 
of  labels,  &c.,  who  are  paid  as  skilled  mechanics. 

The  area  of  tea-growing  is  rapidly  increasing,  and  as  there  are  plenty 
of  hillsides  and  plains  well  adapted  for  the  culture  available,  and  still  un- 
occupied, it  will  increase  as  long  as  there  is  a  foreign  demand.  It  seeme 
to  be  one  of  the  great  tields  for  the  spread  and  use  of  an  increasing  la- 
bor poj)ulation.  The  habit  of  adulterating  tea,  however,  with  leaves  oi 
the  wisteria  plant  seems  to  be  on  the  increase  in' this  country,  and  if  not 
arrested  may  materially  affect  the  demand.  The  wisteria  leaf  is  not 
poisonous,  but  cannot  be  said  to  improve  the  flavor  of  the  cup  that 
"cheers,  but  not  inebriates." 

Silk. — The  area  of  land  in  mulberry  trees  is  not  stated  in  any  of  the 
late  census  product  returns.  In  1875  the  total  value  of  silk  product  is 
given  at  $31,250,000.  The  export  o*"  silk  and  silk-worm  eggs  for  the 
year  ending  June  30,  1878,  was  $11,040,976.64. 

The  trade  is  steadily  growing  and  giving  increased  employment  to  la- 
bor, and  as  better  processes  of  preparing  silk  are  introduced  and  a  bet- 
ter article  is  produced,  more  and  more  skilled  labor  will  be  required  and 
higher  wages  be  paid. 

Mulberry  plantations  are  found  in  fifty  of  the  sixty-six  provinces  of 
Japan.  The  soil  nowhere  is  exclusively  devoted  to  this  tree.  Univer- 
sally between  the  rows  of  trees,  otlier  crops,  both  summer  and  winter, 
are  grown.  The  business  of  silk  production  is  carried  on  in  the  house 
where  the  family  lives.  The  mulberry  leaves  are  either  picked  off  by 
women  and  children  and  carried  into  the  house,  or  the  young  limbs  with 
the  leaves  on  are  cut  off  and  taken  there,  where  the  leaves  are  i)icked 
off,  washed,  cut  up,  anil  fed  to  the  worms.     Little  skill  is  required. 

When  the  cocoons  are  ready  for  winding,  that,  as  well  as  all  the  other 
work  thus  far  referred  to,  is  done  by  women  and  girls.  To  make  an  even 
thread  requires  experience,  care,  and  skill,  ami  such  labor  commands 
wages  accordingly.  Spinning,  warping,  dyeing,  and  weaving  are  all 
more  or  less  skilled  branches  and  require  skilled  labor. 

There  are  some  establishments  that  buy  the  cocoons,  wind  them,  spin 
the  thread,  and  weave  the  cloth  ;  but  nine-tenths  of  the  silk,  raw  and 
manufactured,  of  the  country  is  family  made.  The  machinery  of  manu- 
facture, whether  in  the  factory  or  i>rivate  house,  is  crude,  and  still  re- 
mains as  though  Jacquard  and  Arkwright  never  lived.  The  beautiful 
stuffs  made  by  such  crude  means  testify  to  their  skill  and  ingenuity. 

The  man  who  tends  the  trees  commands  ordinary  farm  wages,  while 
the  leaf-j^ickers  and  feeders,  winders,  spinners,  and  weavers  of  jdain 
cloth  will  get  from  20  to  40  cents  per  day.  Weavers  of  fancy-patterned 
goods  get  much  more,  even  as  high  as  $1  per  day  ;  but  this  if  very  ex- 
cei)tional. 

Cotton. — Ileliable  statistics  cannot  be  obtained  by  which  to  estimate 
the  amount  of  this  staple  raised  in  the  country.  The  returns  of  1875 
show  cotton  goods  manufactured  to  the  value  of  $10,564,578,  and  that 
it  formed  part  of  textures  valued  at  $12,915,586.  The  cotton  itself  is 
coarse,  and  in  consequence  the  manufactured  cloth  is  of  an  inferior 
quality,  and  the  labor  employed  is  not  skilled  and  commands  small 
wages.  It  is  generally  believed  that  these  manufacturers  have  increased 
within  the  past  few  years  from  30  to  50  per  cent. 

ARTISANS. 

The  Japanese  artisan,  like  the  farmer,  has  always  held  a  res])ectable 
l)Osition.  He  was  in  a  class  above  the  merchant  and  banker,  but  in 
reality  his  position,  pay,  and  privileges  were  no  greater. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  331 

For  a  thousaud  years  a  very  high  ineehaiiioal  art  lias  existed.  The 
Japanese  articles  and  iin[)leinents  of  steel  were  of  the  best.  Some  of  the 
old  swords  are  worthy  tobeclassed  with  the  Toledo  and  Damascus  blades. 
Their  lacquered  wares  have  been  and  still  are  unrivaled,  and  they  made 
beautiful  porcelain  long  before  Palissy  and  Boettcher  were  born.  Their 
silk  cloth,  embroideries,  and  silk  tapestries  were  exquisitely  beautiful  at 
a  time  when  some  Western  jieoples  wore  the  coarsest  stuffs.  Their  oldest 
bronze  compares  with  the  finest  products  of  Europe.  Their  paintings 
on  silk  and  paper,  porcelain  and  lacquer  excite  the  warmest  admira- 
tion. Their  ivory  aiul  wood  carvings  are  wonders  of  skill,  ingenuity,  and 
patient  labor. 

There  is  hardly  a  house  in  Jaj^an  where  some  mechanical  trade  is  not 
carried  on.  Even  in  the  households  of  the  higher  classes,  silk,  cotton, 
and  other  goods  are  made  by  the  servants,  and  the  members  of  the 
family  have  some  knowledge  of  the  art.  Everj'  farmer's  house  has  its 
wheel  aiul  loom.  Many  of  the  smaller  merchants  make  more  or  less  of 
their  goods. 

In  this  view  there  are  many  more  artisans  in  the  country  than  are 
shown  by  the  census  of  1875.  The  number,  as  I  have  previously  stated, 
is  placed  between  700,000  and  800,000.  I  believe  that  there  are  more 
than  double  that  number  who  devote  the  greatest  share  of  their  time  to 
manufacture,  and  five  or  six  millions  who  work  more  or  less  at  mechani- 
cal trades. 

Many  of  the  wares  used  for  home  consumption  require  no  special  skill 
in  their  production,  and  therefore  the  labor  wage  is  low.  In  the  manu- 
facture of  silk,  lacquer,  porcelain,  enamels,  bronzes,  embroideries,  and 
in  their  paintings,  skilled  labor  must  enter,  and  is  paid  proportionately. 

What  has  been  said  of  agricultural  labor  as  to  the  use  of  machinery 
can  be  rei)eated  of  mechanical  work.  Jt  is,  in  the  main,  haud  labor. 
Labor-saving  machinery  does  not  enter  as  a  factor,  to  any  appreciable 
extent,  into  the  industries  of  Japan.  I  doubt  if  there  are  more  than 
two  saw-mills  in  the  whole  Empire.  All  such  labor  is  by  haud  in  every 
branch  of  mechanical  art. 

Porcelain  and  earihenware. — Porcelain  and  earthenware  are  manufact- 
ured in  every  province.     By  the  last  census  returns  available  (1875)  the 
value  of  all  porcelain  produced  was  about  $3,000,000.     With  one  excep- 
tion, that  of  the  home  departuient  in  the  province  of  Hizen,  there  is  no 
foreign  machinery  or  mode  of  manufacture  in  use.     The  clay  is  manipu- 
lated as  it  was  in  the  earliest  days.     The  same  wheel  is  used  for  turn- 
ing that  is  pictured  on  the  walls  of  the  tombs  and  temides  of  Egypt. 
All  decorations  are  by  hand.     There  is  a  marked  improvement  of  late 
years  in  designs  and  decorations  of  all  kinds  of  articles  of  oruameut. 
No  more  beautiful  or  exquisit<3  ceramic  articles  are  made  than  come 
from  the  hands  of  the  Japanese  artisan.     Love  of  beautiful  pottery  has 
been  a  national  i)assion  for  a  thousand  years,  and  skilled  labor  has  com- 
manded relatively  high  wages. 

Much  of  tlie  cruder  work  can  be  done  by  apprentices  and  common 
journeymen,  but  a  good  turner  at  the  wheel  gets  from  50  to  70  cents  per 
day,  and  the  best  painters  from  75  cents  to  $1.15.  The  average  is,  how- 
ever, much  less. 

INIakers  of  flowers  and  figures  of  birds,  &c.,  foj-  ornamenting  the  larger 
vases  and  Jars  in  bas-relief  receive  from  50  to  70  cents  per  day.  A  safe 
person  skilled  in  baking  the  ware  can  be  had  for  from  40  to  GO  cents  per 
diem,  an<l  clay  washers  and  mixers  at  from  20  to  iiO  cents. 

Enamels. — Makers  of  enameled  copper  and  jiorcelain  receive  much  the 
same  wages.     The  enameled  copper  or  cloisonne  of  the  present  time 


332  LA.BOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

commands  higher  prices  iu  the  market  than  any  now  made  elsewhere. 
There  has  been  the  greatest  imi)rovement  within  the  hist  three  or  four 
years.  When  machinery  takes  the  i)hice  of  the  hand  in  shaping  the  cop- 
per base  and  in  polishing  the  enamel  the  ware  can  be  produced  for  much 
less  than  at  present,  and  probably  of  a  superior  quality.  As  it  is,  Ja- 
pan has  no  close  competitor  in  the  tiner  articles  of  this  manufacture. 

Bronze. — Bronze  workers  get  about  the  same  wages  as  workers  in  por- 
celain. The  highest  skill  in  inlaid  bronze  manufacture  commands  from 
$1  to  $1.50  per  day,  but  ordinary  skill  can  be  had  from  .30  to  70  cents 
per  day. 

Ivory  carvers  get  from  $10  to  $20  per  month;  carpenters  from  25  to 
50  cents  per  day ;  blacksmiths  are  cheaper,  and  can  be  had  from  18  to 
40  cents  per  diem. 

Lacquer. — Modern  lacquer  workers,  in  the  best  product  of  that  art, 
rank  with  porcel.iin  and  bronze  artisans.  Wages  range  from  20  cents 
to  $1.25  per  day,  according  to  the  skill  of  the  individual  and  the  grade 
of  the  article  made. 

It  has  been  thought  the  art  of  making  fine  lacquer  was  on  the  decline, 
but  I  think  this  is  a  mistake,  and  that  as  fine,  if  not  finer,  articles  than 
ever  graced  the  Tycoon's  castle  can  be  made  if  the  same  prices  are 
offered. 

Ship-huilders  work  mostly  near  the  open  ports,  where  wages  are  muck 
higher  than  in  the  interior.  A  good  ship  carpenter  gets  40  to  50  cents 
per  day,  and  a  foreman  from  $50  to  $60  per  month. 

PROFESSIONAL   LABOR. 

As  was  seen  in  giving  the  statistics  of  education,  the  average  yearly 
salary  of  all  the  school  teachers  in  Japan  was  44.72  yen. 

Physiciiuis,  as  a  rule,  do  not  charge  for  the  visit  to  the  patient,  but 
for  the  medicine  which  they  give;  but,  as  one  who  has  reputation 
charges  more  for  the  same  medicine  than  the  less  known  practitioner,  it 
amounts  to  the  same  thing.  An  ordinary  physician  will  receive  a  call 
iu  office  hours  and  give  medicine  for  from  12i  to  20  cents.  As  to  charges 
for  surgical  cases,  the  knife  was  unknown  to  the  old  school.  The  fees 
of  the  new  foreign  school  cannot  be  much  higher,  for  if  they  were  the 
physicians  would  not  get  patronage. 

Lawyers. — Until  lately'  there  were  no  native  lawyers.  Now  several 
are  practicing  before  the  courts  in  Tokio  and  Yokohama.  It  can  hardly 
be  said  that  they  have  established  a  footing  yet,  or  that  the  profession 
has  a  well-defined  existence.  As  no  civil  code  has  been  adopted,  and 
as  the  criminal  code  has  been  little  modified,  it  may  be  a  long  time 
before  they  reach  a  position  of  much  importance. 

Writerfi,  translators,  and  interpreters  can  be  had  at  all  prices,  from 
$10  to  $50  i)er  month  ;  clerks,  salesmen,  and  hook  keepers  command  from 
$18  to  $20  per  month,  including  board. 

COOLIE   OR   COMMON   LABOR. 

This  is  the  lowest  class  of  labor  iu  Japan.  As  has  been  stated,  these 
peo])le  were  the  serfs  of  ^he  soil.  Although  the  whole  class  system  has 
been  done  away  with,  yet  the  eftect  of  a  thousand  years  of  degrada- 
tion remains.  The  year  1808  found  this  class  in  utter  poverty.  Proba- 
bly not  one  in  a  hundred  of  them  owned  afoot  of  land  or  the  rude  roof 
which  illy  sheltered  their  heads  from  the  storms.  Twelve  years  have 
done  much  to  improve  their  condition.     Many  now  own  their  own  houses 


LAHOH    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  333 

and  tools.  Somo  liave  bought  land  and  are  now  farmers,  on  their  own 
acconnt.  Wages  iiave  Ix  en  raised,  and  schools,  in  many  instances,  are 
available  for  their  children. 

Carriers. — Probably  the  hardest  worked  laborers  in  Japan  arc  the 
carriers.  This  class  includes  the  Jinrickisha  men,  carmen,  and  pack- 
ers. Jinrickishas,  or  man  wagons,  introduced  into  Japan  by  a  tori-igner, 
in  IJSTO,  are  now  in  use  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  it  is  estimated 
that  they  nund)er  between  ;)00,UU()  and  400,000.  A  man  is  expected  to 
go  from  30  to  40  miles  ])er  day,  j^ull  this  carriage,  ot  some  50  pounds  in 
weight,  with  a  man  weighing  150  more,  over  all  kinds  of  roads,  and  he 
gets  from  35  to  (jO  cents  for  it.  Some  own  their  own  Jin  rick  islms,  but 
in  most  cases  a  company  or  guild  is  the  owner,  and  fur  rental  of  a  ve- 
hicle the  coolie  must  pay  from  6  to  10  cents  i)er  day.  The  cost  of  these 
carriages  is  from  $12  to  $1G  each.  One  of  these  men  will  carry  you  6 
miles  in  an  hour,  and  when  yon  stop  to  make  a  call,  the  poor  fellow, 
bathed  in  persjnration,  waits,  perhai)S,  in  a  cold  winter  wind  or  storm, 
with  no  protection  but  his  cotton  garments.  The  result  is  necessarily 
rheumatism,  consnmi)tion,  and  a  short  life. 

Carmen. — There  are  two  kinds  of  cart  carriage — one  where  the  cart 
is  drawn  by  men  and  the  other  by  a  bull  or  cow.  Where  man  drawn, 
usually  there  are  four  men  — two  in  front  and  two  behind.  They  draw 
heavy  loads,  and  go  slowly,  indulging  in  a  sort  of  measured  shont,  to 
mark  time.  In  the  south,  smaller  carts  are  in  use — some  for  two  and 
others  for  one  man.  I  have  seen  an  old  man  and  a  young  woman,  the 
latter  with  a  small  child  strapped  on  her  back,  pulling  a  cart  load  of 
wood  or  coal  up  steep  hills  and  over  sandy  plains.  Ten  to  twelve  miles 
a  day  with  a  loaded  cart  is  a  day's  work,  and  GOO  to  700  pounds  an  av- 
erage load  for  two  persons.  For  this  heavy  work  from  10  to  20  cents 
each  per  diem  is  considered  good  pay. 

However  dark  this  picture,  these  people  know  how  to  enjoy  it.  They 
go  in  a  train  of  several  carts,  taking  their  food,  rain-coats  of  plaited 
straw,  and  sun-hats,  and  at  intervals  stop  by  some  stream  where  there 
is  clear  water  and  cool  shade,  where,  with  the  laughter  and  light-heart- 
edness  of  children,  they  indulge  in  their  simple  meals. 

Bull-carts  are  drawn  by  only  one  animal.  The  driver  walks  by  the 
latter's  side  and  guides  him  by  a  small  cord  fastened  to  his  nose  by  au 
iron  ring.  The  bull  is  stout,  quiet,  and  gentle ;  he  will  go  about  12  to 
15  miles  per  day,  and  draw  GOO  to  700  pounds.  The  earnings  of  such  a 
cart  and  man  are  about  50  cents  per  day. 

Pacltrs. — These  are  of  two  kinds,  men  and  women  who  carry  loads  of 
produce  and  goods  on  their  backs  over  the  mountain  paths  and  along  the 
highways,  down  to  the  rivers  and  sea-coast,  and  those  who  use  horses  for 
the  same  purpose.  Men  and  women  carry  from  80  to  120  pounds  each, 
and  go  from  12  to  15  miles  a  day,  earning  from  10  to  IG  cents.  The 
horse,  in  summer,  gets  little  but  grass,  with,  perhajjs,  a  little  rice  or 
barley  bran.  There  are  no  iron  or  steel  shoes  worn  by  pack  horses. 
They  are  shod  with  straw,  and,  in  the  interior,  these  straw  shoes  cost 
2  cents  per  set.  On  some  of  the  stony  roads  two  sets  are  require<l  per 
day. 

The  other  coolie  labor  has  been  referred  to  when  treating  of  farming 
and  mechanical  industries,  where  they  are  used  to  do  the  heavy  an(i 
coarse  work. 

FISHERMEN. 

Surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  ocean,  indented  everywhere  by  broad 
gulfs  and  bays,  all  the  alluvial  portions  cut  up  by  tidal  streams  and 


334  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

canals,  the  waters  swarming  witb  a  great  variety  of  food-fislies,  it  is 
only  natural  that  there  should  be  a  numerous  fishing  population  in 
Japan.  There  are  no  separate  returns  of  this  class,  but  it  is  very 
large. 

Every  shore  has  its  fishing  villages.  All  the  bays  and  inlets,  on  fair 
days,  are  white  with  the  sails  of  flf  hing  boats.  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  this  is  the  lowest  class  in  the  country.  Their  houses  are  the  poor- 
est and  dirtiest,  and  they  are  the  least  intelligent.  There  are  fewer 
schools  in  these  isolated  villages  than  elsewhere  and  the  percentage  of 
illiteracy  is  greater.  Physically  they  are  the  equals  of  the  other  people, 
which  is  owing  to  a  plentiful  supply  of  fish-food.  There  is  no  religious 
or  other  prejudice  against  eating  fish,  and  all  kinds  are  cheap. 

A  good  fishing  boat  for  two  men  costs  about  $70.  On  fair  days  an 
average  catch  is  from  GO  to  90  cents'  worth.  The  wages  of  an  able- 
bodied  fisherman,  working  by  the  day,  are  15  to  20  cents.  Women  and 
children  work  along  the  shores  at  low  tide,  gathering  oysters,  clams,  «&c. 

The  preparation  of  salted  fish  gives  employment  to  large  numbers  of 
the  cheaper  class  of  laborers.  This  numerous  fishing  i)opulatioD,  the 
island  location  of  the  country,  the  numbers  and  variety  of  fish  in  all  the 
waters,  the  cheapness  of  transportation  from  the  fisheries  to  the  centers 
of  population  on  the  sea-shores  and  river  banks,  all  have  an  important 
beariug  upon  the  welfare  of  the  laboring  class. 

In  the  larger  towns  the  fish-markets  are  all  under  the  control  of  guilds, 
and  in  some  places  the  boats  are  owned  and  the  men  employed  by  these 
guilds.  In  the  city  of  Xagoya,  in  the  province  of  Owari,  the  fish  guild 
four  years  ago  owned  1,200  boats  and  employed  4,000  men.  Some  of 
these  boats  were  large  and  carried  8  and  10  men.  Their  sales  of  fish 
were  $1,500,000  per  year. 

Fish  can  be  had  at  all  prices,  from  2  to  12^  cents  per  pound,  accord- 
ing to  the  quality  and  the  locality  where  sold.  The  product  of  the  fish- 
eries in  1878  was  about  $10,000,000. 

MINERS. 

The  mines  of  Japan,  in  the  value  of  the  product,  do  not  take  high 
rank.  The  total  value  from  all  mines  and  quarries  in  1878  did  not  ex- 
ceed $5,000,000. 

Labor  is  cheap,  and  for  poverty  and  ignorance  the  miner  takes  a  po- 
sition side  by  side  with  the  fisherman.  His  lot  is  harder  and  his  ])lea8- 
ures  are  less.  Common  mine  labor  can  be  had  for  from  8  to  20  cents 
day,  and  by  the  month  for  less. 

Exactly  what  the  mine  wealth  of  Japan  is  cannot  be  ascertained  at 
present,  and  probably  will  never  be  known  until  the  country  and  its 
hidden  resources  are  opened  to  foreign  skill  and  enterprise;  and  this 
may  be  said  with  equal  truth  as  to  the  cultivable  lands.  If  worked  in 
large  tracts  by  skilled  labor  and  modern  foreign  implements,  the  taxa- 
ble wealth  of  the  country  would  be  vastly  increased. 

SPORTS   AND  PASTIMES. 

The  national  si>orts  and  games  of  Japan  were  less  active  and  athletic 
in  character  than  those  of  Europe  and  America.  The  samurai  were 
fond  of  horseback  riding,  but  the  laboring  classes  were  not  allowed  to 
ride  on  the  public  roads.  Even  now,  when  the  pack-horses  are  return- 
ing unloaded  from  market  and  the  drivers  ride  a  portion  of  the  way, 
they  make  sure  to  dismount  in  the  presence  of  any  of  the  old,  higher 


LABOR    IN   ASIA:    JAPAN.  335 

cla.sH.  The  absence  of  roads  also  discouraged  the  practice  of  eqiies- 
trianisiu.  Foot  races  or  walking  matches  were  not  in  vogue.  So  of 
boat  racing.  Exclusively  warlike  games  and  practices  were  indulged 
in  by  the  higher  classes.  They  ])racticed  archery  and  fencing,  and,  on 
eating  and  drinking  occasions,  had  trials  of  strength  and  skill  within 
doors. 

The  lower  classes  had  a  more  active  class  of  sports.  Under  the  har- 
vest moon  you  may  see  a  whole  village  collected  to  witness  wrestling, 
racing,  and  fencing.  Theatrical  performances  are  popular,  and  traveling 
troupes  of  actors  go  from  village  to  village,  erect  bamboo  and  mat 
shelters,  and  give  entertainments  for  a  week  at  a  time.  On  such  occa- 
sions the  laboring  classes  turn  out  in  great  numbers,  with  all  their  holi- 
day finery  on,  and  enjoy  every  incident  of  the  performance.  Laboring 
men  in  the  evening  go  to  tea  houses,  drink  a  light  wine  made  from  rice, 
singsongs,  play  games  of  skill,  and  recite  in  dramatic  style  from  the 
old  historians  and  poets.  Women  and  girls  gossip  in  groups  at  some 
neighbor's  house,  or  at  the  public  baths.  Women  play  a  simple  game 
of  checkers,  while  men  are  skilled  in  chess.  The  children  have  battle- 
dore and  kiteflying. 

In  addition  to  this  the  Japanese  are  great  travelers.  In  certain 
months  when  farm  labor  is  not  pressing,  20  or  30  friends  and  neighbors 
will  arrange  a  pilgrimage  to  some  of  the  noted  shrines  and  temples  in 
the  mountains,  going  on  foot  as  far  as  150  or  200  miles.  They  walk 
leisurely  along  the  roads  and  paths,  talking,  laughing,  and  singing.  In 
the  middle  of  the  day,  when  tired,  they  sleep  in  the  shade  of  the  groves, 
eat  rice  and  drink  tea,  and  are  as  happy  as  the  day  is  long. 

These  pilgrimages  are  an  important  feature  in  the  social  life  of  the 
laborer.  They  afford  mental  and  physical  relaxation,  give  extended 
observation  of  wide  regions  of  country,  of  new,  varied  and  better  in- 
dustries, and  an  insight  into  the  life  and  habits  of  their  far-off"  country- 
man. 

There  is  another  amusement  to  be  met  with  on  festival  days,  which, 
in  the  smaller  villages  of  the  interior,  still  exerts  an  influence  upon  the 
lower  classes.  1  allude  to  the  wayside  storytelling.  This  afforded  the 
only  means  which  certain  classes  had  of  knowing  the  history  of  their 
country.  The  story-tellers  have  rude  booths,  and  for  a  mere  pittance 
recite  by  the  hour  the  civil  and  military  history  of  the  difl'erent  dynas- 
ties which  have  ruled  the  country.  They  speak  the  pure  old  Japanese 
unmixed  with  Chinese  words,  which  the  learned  affected,  and  thus  are 
perfectly  understood  by  their  hearers. 

LABOR   OEGANIZATIONS. 

Every  branch  of  labor  and  trade  has  its  guild,  although  not,  like  those 
of  western  countries,  originally  formed  to  protect  labor  from  the  exac- 
tions of  capital.  The  Government,  for  purposes  of  revenue,  farmed  out 
to  favorites  exclusive  privileges  of  trade  or  of  labor,  and  these  i)ersons 
formed  guilds  and  levied  taxes  upon  all  engaged  in  such  occupations. 
These  organizations,  in  time,  fell  more  and  more  under  the  influence 
and  control  of  those  taxed.  They  gradually  grew  to  be  used  for  the 
protection  of  the  interests  of  the  trades.  They  could  petition  the  local 
authorities,  and,  from  their  numbers  and  unity,  had  no  inconsiderable 
influence. 

Although  the  Government  has  abolished  this  practice  of  farming 
these  guilds  and  substituted  therefor  individual  licenses,  the  guilds  still 
exist  and  zealously  guard  the  interests  of  their  members. 


336  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

As  has  beeu  said,  there  are  no  manufactories  employing  large  capital 
and  great  numbers  of  operatives,  but  the  manufactures  of  Japan  are 
distinctively  household.  In  some  cases  a  few  outside  laborers  are  em- 
ployed, but  in  many,  perhaps  a  majority,  of  these  household  workshopSj 
the  laborer  is  interested  in  the  capital  and  profits  of  the  manufacture. 

If  labor-saving  macliinery,  large  capital,  and  great  establishments 
employing  hundreds  of  peoi)le  shall  ever  bo  introduced,  these  guilds 
now  operating  partially  in  the  interest  of  labor  may  assume  the  im- 
portance and  iuriuence  of  the  labor  organizations  in  the  United  States. 

FINANCES. 

While  the  flnances  of  a  country  have  an  important  bearing  upon  the 
condition  of  the  laborer,  it  is  not  within  the  province  of  this  paper  to 
enter  into  an  elaborate  review  of  the  financial  system  of  this  country. 
Briefly,  the  estimates  of  the  revenues  of  the  General  Government  are, 
for  the  years  1880-'81,  $54,558,504.  The  principal  sources  of  this  reve- 
nue are  as  follows : 

Ist.   Land  tax $41,901,441: 

2d.    Imports  aud  exports 2,369,462 

3d.    Taxes  ou  s])irits,  tobaeco,  stamp  taxes,  licenses,  &c 9,  000,  000 

4tb.  Income  from  Government  property,  such  as  sales  and  rents  from  pub- 
lic lands,  yield  of  mines,  &c 1,  400,  000 

The  burdens  of  taxation  are  light  upon  all  industries  except  agricult- 
ure, where  the  tax  is  a  uniform  one  of  3  per  cent,  of  its  value,  as  ha» 
been  shown,  estimated  from  its  products.  The  estimated  expenditures 
are  the  same  for  the  year  1880-'81  as  the  revenue,  the  principal  item* 
of  which  are  for — 

Reduction  of  national  debt $'),  817,  bSB 

Interest  on  national  ilebt 15,  631,  369 

Pensions 1,059,403 

Expenses  of  tbe  ten  departments  of  the  Goverument '23,  051,  409 

Expenses  of  local  or  provincial  governments 4,  .539, 280 

Police 1,261,500 

Miscellaneous:  home  and  foreign  industrial  exhibitions,  libraries,  muse- 
ums, &c 1,331,559 

Currency. — The  currency  of  the  country  is — 

Ist.   Treasury  notes flOt,  683, 203: 

2d.    National  bank  notes,  abont 32,  dOO,  000 

Making  the  total  paper  circulation  about 140, 683, 203 

The  treasury  notes  are  irredeemable,  but  are  interchangeable  for  6 
per  cent.  Government  bonds.  There  is  an  annual  drawing  for  a  certain 
amount  of  these  bonds,  which  are  paid  at  par  in  gold. 

The  national  bank  issues  are  secured  by  a  deposit  of  Government 
bonds  of  80  per  cent,  of  the  amount  so  issued,  but  are  redeemable  only 
in  treasury  notes. 

Both  the  treasury  and  bank  notes  are  much  depreciated  and  are  now, 
September,  1880,  worth  from  60  to  70  cents  only,  in  silver. 

The  debt  has  been  reduced  during  the  past  year  nearly  $11,000,000, 
and  the  estimated  reduction  for  the  present  year  is  about  $6,000,000. 
The  interest  on  public  debt  for  the  present  year,  1880-'81,  is  $15,631,369. 

PAUPERISM. 

In  all  time  Japan  had  her  beggar  class,  who  were  permitted  to  solicit 
alms  by  tiie  roadside,  and  to  liye  in  huts  on  the  waste  lands.  The 
origin  of  this  class  is  unknown.     Whether  they  are  descended  from  the 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  337 

lepers  or  from  pardoned  criminals,  and  thus  outcasts,  or  from  the  con- 
quered aborigines,  is  uncertain.  Although  they  may  still  be  seen  here 
and  there  by  the  roadsides,  the  Government  discourages  these  proceed- 
ings, and  in  many  cases  they  are  arrested  and  subjected  to  ])unishment. 
There  was  an  attempt  some  years  since,  by  the  various  local  authorities, 
to  reduce  the  number  of  these  beggars  by  furnishing  them  with  labor, 
food,  and  clothing,  but  without  marked  success.  With  this  exception, 
the  Goverument  has  never  made  any  provision  for  the  extremely  poor. 
Farms  for  the  poor,  pauper  asylums,  systems  of  out-door  relief,  were  and 
are  unknown.  In  fact,  there  was  little  need  for  them.  So  little  food 
and  clothing  will  supidy  the  wants  of  the  poor  that  the  near  and  distant 
relatives  of  which  the  family  and  class  are  formed  were  enabled  to  pro- 
vide that  little.  As  the  influence  of  the  family  organizations  grows 
weaker  and  their  res]>onsibility  less,  the  necessity  of  some  public  pro- 
vision begins  to  be  felt. 

There  is  another  feature  of  society  here  which  makes  numbers  of 
aged,  indigent  people  less  dependent  upon  public  charity.  The  family 
never  becomes  extinct,  the  line  of  descent  never  ceases.  If  there  are 
no  male  children  to  bear  the  name,  a  younger  son  of  another  family  is 
adopted,  who  takes  the  family  name,  and  upon  whom  the  aged  and  de'- 
crepit  lean  for  support. 

THE   BLIND. 

The  number  of  blind  persons  in  Japan,  owing  to  causes  already  enu- 
merated, is  very  large.  In  every  city  or  village  of  any  size  they  are  or- 
ganized into  associations  or  guilds,  controlled  by  a  president  or  head  man. 
This  officer,  although 'chosen  by  the  members,  was  formally  commis- 
sioned by  the  Government  authorities.  Unless  otherwise  disabled,  the 
blind  are  not  idle.  They  go  about  the  streets  making  their  presence 
known  at  night  by  blowing,  every  few  steps,  upon  a  shrill  whistle,  and 
are  employed  as  shampooers  by  any  one  in  pain  or  suflfering  from  fatigue. 
Their  districts  of  labor,  prices,  and  general  behavior  are  regulated  by 
the  head  officer.  They  live  by  themselves,  do  their  own  cooking,  and 
are,  in  general,  a  peaceable  and  worthy  class,  and  not  a  burden  upon  the 
community. 

SCENERY. 

The  remarkable  beauty  of  Japanese  scenery  has  won  the  admiration 
of  every  visitor.  Her  grand  mountain  ranges,  covered  with  trees  and 
shrubs,  clothed  in  perpetual  green,  towered  by  the  world-renowned 
Fujiyama,  rearing  its  shining  summit  above  the  clouds,  reverenced  by 
millions  of  her  peojde  as  the  retiection  of  Deity  itself,  and  the  holy 
shrine  to  which  thousands  of  pilgrims  yearly  bend  their  steps;  the 
charming  and  picturesque  valleys,  carpeted  with  richest  verdure  and 
blossoming  with  flowers  of  a  thousand  hues,  including  the  lotus,  queen 
of  lilies,  which  fills  the  atmosphere  with  its  rich  perfume;  the  rushing 
torrents  and  winding  rivers,  sparkling  with  clearest  water ;  her  numer- 
ous and  varied  islands ;  her  indented  coasts,  bays,  and  harbors ;  her 
varieties  of  shrubs  and  trees,  and  her  skies  of  purest  blue — all  combine 
to  make  their  impress  on  the  character  of  her  people. 

Cheerfulness  of  disposition  and  love  of  the  beautiful  are  striking  char- 
acteristics of  the  natives  of  Niphon.  Born  aiid  reared  amidst  such 
charms  of  nature,  forms  of  beauty  become  to  them  every  day  familiar 
objects,  and  it  is  no  matter  of  wonder  that  they  bring  into  existence  some 
of  the  lovliest  works  of  art  that  human  hands  have  ever  formed,  or  that 
y2  A— 2  LAB 22 


338  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN. 

the  smiles  of  sky  and  earth,  air  and  sea,  should  be  reflected  on  their 
faces  and  in  their  lives. 

The  laborer  sings  at  his  toil,  goes  cheerfully  to  his  simple  meal,  and 
engages  with  the  enthusiasm  of  boyhood  in  his  holiday  sports. 

ETHNOLOGY. 

It  is  perhaps  too  early  to  state  with  certainty  to  which  of  the  families 
of  the  human  race  the  Japanese  belong. 

Morton,  long  since,  after  examining  a  number  of  Japanese  crania,  de- 
cided that  they  are  not  of  Chinese  origin.  Their  language,  which  is 
always  considered  the  strongest  evidence  of  race,  makes  it  certain  that 
they  are  neither  Chinese,  Polynesian,  or  of  that  aboriginal  race  to  which 
the  inhabitants  of  Northeastern  Asia  belong.  Whitney  and  Mliller  are 
inclined  to  place  them  in  the  great  Indo-European  family.  If  so,  the 
conquerers  of  these  islands  must  have  started  from  the  central  regions 
of  Asia,  and  instead  of  traveling  west,  as  the  other  migratory  hordes 
did,  came  east,  crossed  to  Japan,  and  wrested  the  country  from  the  Ainos, 
the  then  possessors  of  the  soil. 

ORIENTAL   CIVILIZATION. 

The  distinctive  characteristic  of  Oriental  civilization,  as  compared  to 
ours  of  the  west,  is  its  extreme  simplicity  of  food,  dress,  houses,  house- 
hold appurtenances,  and  general  style  of  liviug.  The  precepts  of  relig- 
ion, the  maxims  of  government,  and  the  fashions  of  the  times  inculcate 
and  command  the  practice  of  frugality  and  rigid  economy,  while  the 
whole  influence  of  western  civilization  tends  to  lead  the  laborer  to  habits 
of  show  and  luxury  beyond  his  means.  Our  styles  of  architecture,  of 
food,  and  of  clothing  are  incomparably  more  costly  than  those  of  the 
Orient. 

If  a  Japanese  laborer  had  to  live  in  our  style  of  house,  eat  our  animal 
flesh  and  pastries,  and  wear  our  clothing,  to  say  nothing  of  the  social 
demands  upon  his  time  and  means,  the  cost  of  his  living  would  be  more 
than  quadrupled,  and  the  price  of  his  products  enhanced  accordingly. 
This  question  of  the  comparative  simplicity  and  cost  of  living  and  of 
production  of  the  two  civilizations  will  grow  in  importance  as  the  two 
systems  are  brought  more  and  more  into  contact  and  competition. 

There  are  seven  or  eight  hundred  million  people  dwelling  on  the 
southern  and  eastern  shores  of  Asia,  the  majority  of  them  workers,  liv- 
ing up  to  the  requirements  of  this  Oriental  simplicity,  who  are  all  ready 
to  compete  with  our  ])eople  in  every  branch  of  human  industry.  And  it 
may  be  worth  our  while  to  inquire  if  the  demands  of  our  social  system 
do  not  handicap  our  laborer  too  heavily  in  the  contest.  Of  course  it  is 
not  to  be  contemplated  that  our  laborers  are  to  be  put  upon  the  rice,  fish, 
or  vegetable  diet  of  these  eastern  workers.  Our  climate  alone  utterly 
forbids  such  a  consummation,  if,  in  auy  view,  it  were  desirable.  The 
labor-saving  machinery,  created  from  the  active  brains  of  our  inventors, 
so  often  looked  upon  by  laboring  men  as  destructive  of  employment  and 
ruinous  to  their  interests,  constitutes  for  the  present  the  barrier  which 
protects  them  and  their  interests  against  the  rapid  and  perhaps  lower- 
ing competition  of  the  vast  masses  of  laborers  to  which  I  have  alluded. 
But  this  is  not  all  that  is  needed.  The  reduction  of  taxation  and  equal- 
ization of  the  burdens  of  government,  as  far  as  possible,  the  multiplica- 
tion of  cheap  means  of  transportation,  the  building  of  economical  and 
comfortable  houses  in  cities,  the  positive  j)revention  of  swindling  in  food 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  339 

aud  clothing,  the  rigid  scrutiny  of  all  beverages  sold,  and  the  prohibi- 
tion, under  the  severest  penalties,  of  the  sale  of  impure  drinks,  and  the 
encouragement  of  projier  co-operative  associations  for  the  purchase  aud 
sale  of  good  and  cheap  provisions,  are  all  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  our 
great  laboring  population,  the  producers  of  our  wealth  and  prosperity. 

THOS.  B.  VAJS^  BUREN, 

Consul- General. 
United  States  Consulate-General, 

Kanagaica,  October  6,  1880. 


Table  A. — Showing  prices  of  food  in  Japan,  according  to  quality. 

Cents. 

Rice per  pound-.  2    to    3 

Barley do....  1^  to    2 

Wheat do 1    to    If 

Millet do f  to    1 

Wheat  flour do 2    to    3 

Salt do ^  to      f 

Sugar,  couimou  brown do 4    to    5 

Sugar,  white  brown do 8    to  10 

Peas do 1^  to    2 

Beans do li  to    2 

Potatoes,  Irish per  100  pounds..  20    to  40 

Potatoes,  sweet do 12    to  25 

Onions do 20    to  40 

Carrots do 20    to  30 

Cabbages do 15    to  20 

Eggplants per  pound..  1    to    1^ 

Parsnips per  100  pounds..  20    to  30 

Turnips do 10    to  20 

Squashes do 11    to  15 

Watermelons each..  2    to    5 

Muskmelons do....  1    to    1^ 

Peaches perpound..  2    to    3 

Pears do 1    to    2 

Plums do 2    to    3 

Grapes do 2    to    2^ 

Ducks,  tame each..  20    to  35 

Ducks,  wild do 15    to  30 

Geese,  tame do 40    to  80 

Geese,  wild do 30    to  50 

Pigeons do 10    to  12 

Pheasants do 10    to  20 

Fresh  fish per  pound..  2    to  20 

Oysters per  quart..  6    to  10 

Clams do 6    to  10 

Salt  iish per  pound..  3    to  10 

Beef do 12    to  18 

Pork do 10    to  15 

As  I  have  remarked,  little  animal  flesh  is  eaten  by  the  laborer.    It  is 
only  in  the  open  ports  that  it  is  at  all  used. 
Milk,  butter,  and  cheese  are  also  unknown  articles  of  food. 

Table  B. — Japanese  taxation. 

Laud  tax  (local  and  General  Government),  3  per  cent,  on  valuation. 

Corporations :  On  sales  amounting  to —  Ten.  Sen. 

10,000  yen  and  over 15  00 

7,000  to  10,000  yen t3  00 

5, 000  to  7,  000  yen ; 10  00 

3,  000  to  5,  000  yen 7  00 

1,  000  to  3,  000  yen 5  00 

700  to  1,000  yen 3  00 

Under  700  yen 1  50 


340  LABOR   IN   ASIA:    JAPAN. 

Merchaute,  wholesale:  On  sales  amounting  to —  Ten.  Sen. 

10,000  yen  and  over 15  00 

7,000  to  10,000  yen 13  00 

5,000  to  7,000  yen 10  00 

3,000  to  5,000  yen 7  00 

1,000  to  3,000  "yen 5  00 

700  to  1,000  yen 3  00 

500  to  700  yen 2  00 

300  to  500  yen 1  00 

100  to  300  yen 50 

Under  lOO  yen 25 

Mercbant.s,  retail,  and  goods  broliers :  On  sales  amounting  to — 

10,000  yen  and  over 15     00 

7  000  to  10,000  yen 13     00 

5^,000  to  7,000  yen 10    00 

3,000  to  5,000  yen 7     00 

1,000  to  3,000  yen 5    00 

700  to  1,000  yen 3    00 

500  to  700  yen 2     00 

300  to  500  yen 1     00 

100  to  300  yen 5 

30  to  100  yen 2,5 

Public  and  private  libraries,  lenders  of  furniture  and  articles  of  clothing, 

&c. :  On  gross  income 1  per  cent. 

Commission  merchants :  On  gross  commissions  received 1^  per  cent. 

Contractors:  On  gross  receipts 1^  per  cent. 

Manufactures,  cor]3orations  :  On  sales  amounting  to —  Yen.  Sen. 

10,000  ven  and  over    15  00 

7,000  to  10,000  yen 13  00 

5,000  to  7,000  yen 10  00 

3,000  to  5,000  yen 5  00 

1,000  to  3,000  yen 3  00 

700  to  1,000  yen 2  00 

500to700yen 1  00 

300  to  500  yen ' 50 

Under  300  yen 25 

Mechanics :  Honse-painters,  clock,  paper,  and  lacquer-ware  makers,  carvers,  image- 
makers,  photographers,  pen-makers,  picture-painters,  match  manufacturers,  makers 
and  mixers  of  colors,  embroiderers,  tailors,  washmeu,  gold,  silver,  and  tin  smiths, 
pot  and  kettle  workers,  blacksmiths,  carpenters,  locksmiths,  porcelain  and  bronze 
workers,  same  as  above. 

Carriers:  Carriages —  Ten. 

2-horse  carts  per  annum 3 

1-horse  cart  per  annum 2 

Jinrickishas  to  carry  two  persons 2 

Jinrickishae  to  carry  one  person 1 

Wheelbarrows 1 

Pack-horses 1 

Man-carts,  two  men 1 

Man  carts,  four  men 2 

Auctioneers  :  On  gross  sales 3  to  5  per  cent. 

Theatrical,  acrobatic,  and  other  exhibitions :  In  houses,  on  gross  receipts. .  5  per  cent. 

Ten.   Sen. 

Billiard-rooms,  bowling-alleys,  archery  galleries:  Per  month 1  00 

Eatiug-liouses  :  On  gross  receipts  of — 

800  yen  and  over '.  - . .  12  00 

From  500  to  HOO  yen 10  00 

From  30(1  to  ,500  yen 6  00 

P>nni  200  to  300  yen 3  00 

200  and  under 1  50 

Hotels,  with  stables  attached  :  On  receipts  of — 

800  yen  and  over,  ]ier  annum 10  00 

.500  to  800  yen  per  aniinm 9  00 

300  to  500  yen  per  annum 7  00 

200  to  300  yen  per  annum 2  50 

100  to  200  yen  per  annum 1  00 

Under  100  yen  per  annum 50 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    JAPAN.  341 

Eatiug-hoiises  where  only  one  kind  of  food  is  permitted  to  be  served:  On 

gross  receipts  of —  Ten.  Sen. 

800  yen  and  over,  per  annxim 10  00 

500  to  800  you  per  anniuii 7  50 

300  to  500  yen  per  annum 5  00 

200  to  300  yen  per  annum 2  50 

100  to  200  yen  per  annum 1  00 

Under  100  yen  per  annum 50 

Pawn-shops :  On  gross  receipts  of — 

10,000  yen  and  over 15  00 

7.000  to  10,000  ven 13  00 

5,000  to  7,000  ven 10  00 

3,000  to  5,000  yen 7  00 

1,000  to  3,000  yen 5  00 

700  to  1,000  yen 3  00 

500  to  700  yen 2  00 

300  to  500  yeu 1  00 

100  to  300  yen 50 

Under  100  yen 25 

Exchange  brokers  :  On  income,  same  as  above. 

Transportation  companies  :  On  gross  earnings  of,  same  as  above. 

Ten .  Sen. 

Junk-sho])s :  On  transactions  of — 

5,000  yen  and  over 10  00 

3,000  to  5,000  yen 9  00 

1.000  to  3,000  yen .-.         7  00 

.     700  to  1,000  yen 5  00 

iiOO  to700  yen 3  00 

300  to  500  yeu 2  00 

Under  300yen 1  00 

Booths  (for  tea  drinking) :  Per  month,  each 50 

Places  for  sale  of  ice-water:  Per  month  each 80 

Bath-houses  :  On  gross  receipts 1  per  cent. 

Barbers'  license  :  Two  yeu  per  year,  and  1  per  cent,  of  gross  receipts. 

Intelligence  offices:  License  of  5  yen  per  year. 

Danciug-masters,  music-teachers,  street  story-tellers,  and  actors :  License,  1  yen  per 
month. 

Wrestlers  :  License  of  50  sen  per  month. 

Regular  singing  and  dancing  girls:  License  from  1.50  to  3.50  yen  per  month. 

Licensed  attendauts  upon  dancing  and  singing  entertainments:  Seventy-five  sen  to 2 
yen  per  month. 

Water-power  mills  for  hulling  rice:                                                                                Yen.  Sen. 

20  stamps  and  over,  per  annum 5  00 

10  to  20  stamps  per  annum 3  00 

5  to  10  stamps  per  annum 1  .50 

3  to  5  stamps  per  annum 50 

Less  than  3  stamps  per  annum 30 

Live  stock : 

Horses,  each,  per  annnra 1  00 

Grown  cattle,  each,  iier  annum 20 

Young  cattle,  each,  per  annum 10 

Sheep  and  hogs,  each,  per  annum 05 

Marine  licenses : 

Junks  or  native  vessels,  with  a  capacity  to  carry  500  bushels  and  under, 

per  annum 1  00 

Every  500  bushels  additional,  per  annum 1  00 

Steamers,  each  100  tons  measurement,  per  annum 15  00 

Sailing  vessels,  foreign  model,  each  100  tons,  per  annum 10  00 

Small  boats,  2U  sen  to  1  yeu  per  annum,  accordiug  to  size. 

Shooting  licenses : 

Professional  hunters,  per  annum 1  20 

Others,  per  annum 10  00 

Horse  and  cattle  de.ilers  : 

Licenses,  per  annum 2  00 

For  every  animal  sold,  additional,  per  annum 1  00 

Manufacturers  of  weights  aiul  mtiasures :  Tweiity-five  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 

Druggists:  License,  2  yen  ])(T  annum.     All  patent  medicines,  25  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 

Manufacturers  of  alcoholic  drinks:  The  tax  is  levied  upon  the  ([uantity  of  rice  used 
in  brewing.  Couimon  sak6  (a  species  of  wiue),  from  2  to  4  yen,  according  to  qual- 
ity, upon  each  kohn  (about  5  bushels)  of  rice  used. 


"342  LABOR   IN    ASIA:    CHINA. 

Tobacco :  Yen. 

License,  wholesale  dealers,  per  annum 10 

License,  retail  dealers,  per  annum  .! 5 

There  is  also  a  stamp  tax  of  2  per  cent,  on  all  sales. 

Stamped  paper :  All  written  transactions  of  10  yen  and  above  pay  a  tax  of  3  sen.     No 
agreement  in  writing  can  be  enforced  without  a  stamp. 

Copyright :  The  price  of  6  copies  of  the  work  is  charged. 

Stock-brokers  :  Ten  per  cent,  of  commissions. 

Bankers  :  On  every  1,000  yen  loaned,  7  yen. 

Passengers  on  foreign  vessels,  10  sen  per  head. 

Houses  of  prostitution,  1  to  7  yen  per  month. 

Every  inmate,  1  to  4  yen  per  month. 

Taxes  are  collected  in  the  diiiereut  fu  and  ken  (provinces  of  the  Empire),  and  the 

expenditures  for  local  purposes  must  first  be  approved  by  the  General  Government. 


CHIIS^A. 

AMOY. 

BEPOBT  BY  CONSUL  GOLDSBOROTIQH. 
MALE  LABORERS. 

1.  The  rates  of  wages,  &c. :  The  same  as  stated  in  tables. 

2.  The  cost  of  living,  «S6C. :  About  $3  per  month. 

3.  Comj^arison  between  1884  and  1878  in  wages,  &c. :  The  same;  no 
difference. 

4.  The  habits  of  the  working  classes,  &c. :  Steady. 

5.  The  feeling  between  employ^  and  employer,  &c. :  Generally  good. 
G.  The  organized  condition  of  labor,  &c. :  There  is  none. 

7.  The  prevalency  of  strikes,  «&c. :  Of  very  rare  bccurrence,  and  then 
always  settled  by  arbitration. 

8.  Are  the  working  people  free  to  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life 
wherever  they  choose,  or  do  the  employers  impose  any  conditions  in 
this  regard  ?  Those  who  get  the  pay  but  no  provisions  are  free  to  deal 
wherever  they  choose;  but  those  wlio  are  furnished  with  provisions  are 
subject  to  the  conditions  imposed  by  the  employers  in  this  regard. 

9.  Co-operative  societies,  &c. :  Good. 

10.  The  general  condition  of  working  people,  &c.,  how  they  live: 
Cheaply.  Their  homes:  Cheap.  Their  food:  Common.  Their  clothes: 
Common.  Their  chances  for  bettering  their  condition :  They  may  ex- 
l^ect.  Their  ability  to  lay  up  something  for  old  age  or  sickness :  Rather 
liard  to  do  so  on  account  of  small  wages.  Their  moral  and  phj'sical 
condition :  Rather  bad,  because  most  of  them  are  opium  smokers.  The 
influence  for  good  or  evil,  by  which  they  are  surrounded:  The  opium- 
smoking  is  the  chief  evil. 

11.  The  means  for  their  safety  in  factories,  &c.:  No  factories,  i&c, 
here. 

12.  The  political  rights  enjoyed  by  working-men :  They  know  little 
of  law,  but  still  usually  enjoy  the  political  rights  as  others  do.  Their 
influences  on  legislation :  They  have  none.  The  share  borne  by  them  in 
local  and  general  taxation  :  Very  little.  The  tendency  of  legislation  in 
regard  to  labor  and  the  working  people :  No  change  during  centuries. 

13.  The  causes  leading  to  the  emigration  of  the  working  people  and 
influencing  their  selection  of  their  new  homes :  To  better  their  condi- 
tion. 

The  principal  occui)ations  of  the  emigrants,  &c. :  Mining  and  general 
labor. 


LABOR    IN   ASIA:    CHINA. 


343 


FEMALE  LABOR. 


1.  The  number  of  women  and  clildreu,  or  the  closest  possible  approx- 
imation tbereto,  emplo^^ed  here  in  industrial  pursuits,  not  including  or- 
dinary houseliold  duties  or  domestic  servants,  classifying  as  follows : 
Impossible  for  one  to  say. 

a.  Manufacturing  and  mechanical :  None. 

h.  Commercial,  including  transportation  :  None. 

c.  Professional  and  personal,  including  Government  officials,  and 
clerks,  teachers,  artists,  chemists,  hotel  and  boarding-house  keepers, 
journalists,  laundresses,  musicians,  inventors,  bankers,  brokers,  lectur- 
ers, public  speakers,  &c. :  None. 

d.  Agriculture :  Some  help  their  husbands  and  parents,  but  get  no 
pay. 

e.  Mining :  None. 

/.  All  other  pursuits :  Impossible  to  answer. 

2.  The  minimum,  maximum,  and  average  wages  paid  to  female  adults : 
None. 

3.  Their  hours  of  labor :  No  certain  hours. 

4.  The  moral  and  physical  condition  of  such"employ^s:  Eather  good. 

5.  The  means  provided  for  the  improvement  of  these  employes  and 
by  whom  :  No  such  means  provided. 

6.  The  means  provided,  in  case  of  fire  or  other  dangers,  for  their 
safety  :  No  such  means  provided. 

7.  The  i)rovisions  made  by  the  employers  in  regard  to  sanitary  meas- 
ures, and  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and  disabled :  No  such  means  pro- 
vided. 

8.  Has  there  been  any  increase  during  the  past  five  years  in  the 
wages  paid  women  and  in  the  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  or  oth- 
erwise ?    None. 

What  are  the  effects  of  employment  of  women  on  the  wages  of  men, 
and  on  general  social  and  industrial  conditions  ?  An  unknown  quan- 
tity. 

9.  The  state  of  education  among  the  women  employed,  and  among 
their  children  :  The  women  and  children  know  very  little  of — or  rather 
have  no  education  at  all. 

W.  E.  GOLDSBOEOUGH, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 


Amoy, 


1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  moJith  of  ten  hours  per  day  in  Amoy. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Higliest. 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

$7  00 

ffto  on 

BUILDING  TKADE8— continued. 

$5  00 

4  00 

5  00 
C) 

8  0« 

$6  00 
5  00 

(*)        1       (*) 
9  00  !          1K  on  . 

A  ssist  ants 

10  DO 

6  00 

7  00 

n 

7  00 
(*) 

9  00  1 
9  00  1 

(*) 

9  00 
(*) 

(*) 

Plasterers 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers 

Assistants 

Assistants 

9  00 

*  Provisions  only. 


344  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    CHINA. 

Wages  paid  per  monili  of  ten  hours  per  day  in  Amoy — Coutinued. 


Occupations. 


OTHER  TRADES — continued. 


Blacksmiths 

Strikers...  . 

Bookbinders 

Briclv-makers  . . . 

Assistants  .. 
Brewers 

Assistants  .. 
Butchers 

Assistants  . . 
Brass-founders . . 

Assistants  .. 
Cabinet-makers . 

Assistants  .. 
Confectioners  . . . 

Coopers 

Cutlers 

Distillers 

Dyers 

Assistants  .. 

Engravers 

Gardeners 

Assistants  .. 
Hatters 

Assistants  .. 


Lowest. 


t$4  00 

t2  00 

t4  00 

6  00 

(*) 

7 

(*) 


00 


00 

(*) 

6  CO 
(*) 

6  00 
(*) 


tl  50 

4  00 
17  00 

tl6  00 
(*) 
8  00 

5  00 
(*) 

t5  00 
(') 


Highest. 


t$6  00 

13  00 

t6  00 

8  00 

(*) 

8  00 
(*) 

10  00 
C) 

8  00 
(*) 

8  00 
<*) 

3  00 

11  70 
8  00 

18  00 
120  60 
(*) 

10  00 
7  00 
(*) 

16  00 
(*) 


Occupations. 


OTHER  TRADES— continued. 


Jewelers 

Assistants 

Laboiers,  porters,  &c 

Nail-makers  (hand)  

Assistants 

Pottei's 

Assistants 

Printers 

Assistants 

Sail-makers 

Assistants 

Tanners  

Assistants 

Tailors     

Assistants 

Tinsmiths  

Assistants 

Weavers  (outside  of  mills)  ; 

Of  cloth 

Of  silk 

Assistants 


Lowest. 


t$14  00 
(*) 

5  00 
14  00 
(*) 

4  00 
(*) 

5  00 
(*) 

8  00 
(*) 

19  00 
(*) 

16  00 
(*) 

t9  00 
(*) 

17  00 
122  00 

(*) 


Highest. 


t$16  00 
(*) 
6  00 
16  00 
(*) 

5  00 
(*) 

6  0& 
(*) 

10  00 

(*) 

tlO  00 

(*) 

19  OO 

(*) 

no  00 

C) 

t8  00 
124  00 
(*) 


*  Provisions  only.  t  With  provisions. 

VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  ten  hours  per  day  in  ship-yards  {Chinese  junks,  cargo  boats,  and 

small  sampans)  in  Amoy. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

*$10  00 

(t) 

'$12  OO 

(t) 

*  With  provisions  supplied  by  employer. 

YIII.  Seamen's  wages. 


t  Provisions  only. 


Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men)  distinguish} ug  between  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  between  sail  and  steam,  in  Amoy. 


Occupations. 


Seamen  (foreign  ships)  .. 
Seamen  (Chinese  juuks). 


Lowest. 


$17  00 
6  00 


Highest. 


$20  00 
8  00 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  ttoelve  hours  per  day  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and 

females,  in  Amoy. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

*$2  00 

*$3  00 

*  With  provisions,  and  very  small  percentage  on  sales. 


LABOR    IN   ASIA:    CHINA.  345 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  Amoy. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


Household  seivants  (in  native  emplojTnent) *$1  00 


*$3  00 


*  With  provisions. 

XOTE. — Those  employed  by  foreigners  usually  receive  about  three  times  as  much  as  are  paid  by 
natives.    Ko  provisions. 

Xir.  Corporation  employes 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  twelve  hours  per  day  to  the  corporation  employed  in  the  city  of 

Amoy. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest 

*$10  00 
*6  00 
(t) 

*$15  00 

*8  00 

(t) 

'  With  provisions. 


t  Provisions  only. 


HANKOW. 


REPOIiT  BT  CONSUL  SHEPARD. 


In  answer  to  "  Labor  Circular"  of  February  15,  I  have  the  honor  to 
submit  the  following;  statistics  and  remarks  : 

The  forms  given  have  little  pertinency  to  the  state  of  affairs  in  this 
locality,  from  facts  which  will  ap])ear,  and  any  attempt  to  follow  tliem 
would  atibrd  little  information  that  would  be  valuable.  In  this  juris- 
diction there  are  no  laborers  in  Classes  II,  III,  IV,  VI,  XII,  XII,  XIV, 
and  no  establishment  of  the  kind  in  which  to  labor.     ^ 


general  trades. 

The  rate  of  wages  for  journeymen  mechanics  differs  little  in  the  vari- 
ous trades,  13  or  14  cents  per  day  beiug  a  fair  average,  with  food  fur- 
nished by  employers.  Apprentices  receive  from  o%  to  1  cents  per  day 
with  food.  The  cost  of  food  in  such  cases  wiil  average  5  cents  dail3'  per 
mau.  All  trades  have  nearly  the  same  standard  of  wages,  with  per- 
haps a  slight  advance  on  the  above  rates  for  blacksmiths,  founders,  and 
brass-workers. 

The  income  of  a  sampan-man  or  boatman  is  5,000  cash  per  month,  as 
near  as  may  be,  equivalent  to  81.80,  Mexicans,  varying  slightly  accord- 
ing to  rates  of  exchange  or  the  scarcity  of  silver.  This  sum  includes 
his  boat  as  well  as  his  own  labor  and  his  cost  of  living. 

A  cook,  when  employed  by  native  households,  can  average  1,500  cash 
per  month,  $1.10  ;  but  he  has  besides  certain  allowable  "squeezes"  or 
percentages  paid  by  those  of  whom  he  purchases  the  family  provisions 
as  well  as  advances  of  prices,  which  is  invariably  the  practice  with  his 
employer.  lu  foreign  employ,  the  same  man  gets  from  $7  to  $10  i)er 
month  wages,  and  probably  his  "squeezes"  net  him  as  much  more. 


346  LABOR    IN   ASIA:    CHINA. 

Ordinary  coolie  labor  in  this  locality  is  120  cash  per  day,  say  lOJ 
cents,  the  laborer  finding  himself.  This  statement  will  hold  true  of  the 
pay  of  Classes  Y,  VII,  YIII,  IX,  X,  XI,  and  XV. 

FOOD   AND  FOOD   PRICES. 

The  common  food  for  all  laboring  people  is  fish,  pork,  rice,  vegetables, 
oil,  and  salt.  Eice  costs  about  1^  cents  per  pound  ;  fish,  3  cents ;  pork, 
8  cents ;  vegetables,  1^  cents ;  oil,  6J  cents ;  salt,  5  cents. 

RENTS. 

As  to  rents,  it  is  not  easy  to  give  a  reliable  estimate  of  the  cost. 
Most  agriculturists  own  their  dwellings,  which  are  rude  and  primitive 
at  the  best.  The  laboring  classes  generally  live  in  frail  structures  of 
bamboo  matting,  or  of  reeds  plastered  with  mud.  In  the  cities  the 
crowded  apartments  cost  each  occupant  about  10  cents  per  month,  as 
nearly  as  I  can  ascertain,  but  the  data  is  not  reliable.  I  fail  to  learn 
anything  I  can  absolutely  state  as  the  fact. 

'HARACTERISTICS   OF   HANKOW  LABORERS, 

The  Chinese  are  a  patient,  hard-working  people,  steady  at  employ- 
ment, but  very  slow  workers.  They  accomplish  little  as  compared  with 
American  laborers,  probaly  not  one-fourth  as  much,  but  they  have  no 
intermittent  seventh  day  of  rest. 

LABOR   ORGANIZATIONS. 

1  can  learn  of  no  organizations  of  labor  to  control  wagb&,  j^or  any 
attempt  to  associate  for  influence  upon  prices.  The  laborer  is  as  free 
as  his  employer,  and  slight  social  distinction  exists  between  them.  They 
work  when  they  please,  spend  their  wages  as  they  please,  and  for  what 
they  please.  It  is  rare,  however,  to  see  a  person  intoxicated,  though 
strong  drinks  are  common.  As  a  rule  they  are  used  with  extreme  mod- 
eration. 

CLOTHING. 

The  clothing  of  male  laborers  is  very  simple  and  inexpensive.  Two 
garments,  generally,  are  only  worn,  trousers  and  a  sort  of  loose  blouse, 
both  of  ordinary  cotton  cloth,  either  white  or  blue.  In  cold  weather 
these  are  padded  with  cotton  batting.  The  better  classes  vary  the 
upper  garment  by  elongation,  when  the  blouse  becomes  a  robe,  which 
is  often  covered  by  a  third  garment,  a  sleeveless  tunic  of  cloth.  Ma- 
terials are  varied  as  means  allow,  and  silks  and  satins  supplant  the 
cotton  cloth.  The  cost,  of  course,  depends  on  material,  but  the  essen- 
tial cotton  garments  of  laborers  cost  about  $3,  and  two  suits  last  at 
least  a  year. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

Common  people  have  no  political  rights,  and  seem  not  to  care  for 
them.  They  live  in  abject  fear  of  rulers,  but  appear  not  to  discuss 
possibility  of  change.  Oin'.  would  judge  they  never  thought,  and  were 
contented  with  their  abject  condition.  No  emigration  has  c^'er  occurred 
from  this  region.  Education,  even  in  the  Chinese  sense,  is  very  limited, 
but  most  men  can  read  a  few  characters  and  write  them  as  well,  and 
can  keep  accounts. 


LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SOUTHERN    CHINA.  347 

FEMALE  LABOR. 

Female  labor  is  only  known  as  within  domestic  seclusion,  as  a  rule. 
In  agricultural  districts  women  are  seen  at  field  labor,  but  not  com- 
monly. No  statistics  can  be  given  on  this  point.  Very  few  females 
are  taught  to  read. 

ISAAC  F.  SHEPAED, 

Consul. 


SOUTHERN  CHINA. 

REPOBT  BT  CONSUL  SETMOIFR. 

f  I  have  the  honor,  in  compliance  with  the  "Labor  Circular,"  to  make 
the  following  statements  showing  the  value  of  labor  in  Canton  and 
vicinity,  or  Southern  China. 

The  rates  of  wages  paid  to  laborers  of  various  classes  are  as  follows, 
and  the  compensation  stated  generally  requires  their  services  from  day- 
lightto  dark,  withhalf-pay  allowance  for  holidays,  and  an  understanding 
that  every  laborer  provides  his  own  sustenance  ;  an  hour  of  time  being 
allowed  for  mid-day  meal  and  a  few  minutes,  forenoon  and  afternoon, 
for  tea  and  refreshments. 

CLASS  $4.50  TO  85.50  per  month. 

Bakers,  book-binders,  brick-makers,  wine-makers,  butchers,  confec- 
tioners, cigar-makers,  distillers  of  essences,  boatmen,  dj^ers,  gardeners, 
hat  and  cap  makers,  shoemakers,  nail-makers,  potters,  printers,  leather- 
ware  makers,  saddle  and  harness  makers,  tailors,  tinsmiths,  porters, 
and  city  laborers. 

CLASS   $4.50  TO   $8.00  PER  MONTH. 

Brick-layers,  masons,  plasterers,  roofers,  plumbers,  carpenters,  black- 
smiths, brass-founders,  cabinet-makers,  coopers,  cutlers,  engravers,  jew- 
elers, lithographers,  sail-makers,  weavers  (outside  of  mills,  there  are 
few  worthy  of  the  name  of  mills),  glass-makers,  and  ship-yard  labor- 
ers. 

OTHER   CLASSES. 

Employes  in  shops  and  stores  in  cities  get  from  $3.50  to  $4.50  per 
mouth 

Sailors  on  Chinese  junks  and  native  boats  get  from  $3.50  to  85.50 
per  month,  and  on  river  and  coast  steamers,  from  $0  to  $14  per  month, 
according  to  experience  and  responsibility.  Stevedores  range  from  $9 
to  813.50  per  month;  soldiers  84.50  per  month ;  teachers,  with  from 
twenty-five  to  forty  pupils,  receive  from  $3  to  $4.50  per  year  for  each 
pupil,  with  "holiday  presents  "  according  to  circumstances. 

Telegraph  operators  (Chinese  ex-students  in  United  States)  get  from 
$20  to  830  per  month. 

In  mines  and  for  mining  men  receive  20  cents  per  day,  and  women 
and  boys,  for  pumping  and  scouring,  15  cents  per  day. 

Household  wages,  to  indoor  servants  and  for  country  land  laborers 
in  the  service  of  native  employers,  are  usually  about  $1.50  per  month, 
with  food,  and  feast-day  gifts  which  last  item  is  fairly  and  equitably 
respected,  and  so  applied  as  to  be  an  incentive  to  industry. 


348  LABOR    IN    ASIA:    SOUTHERN    CHINA. 

Foreigners  usually  get  good  cooks  and  male  house-servants  at  from 
$7  to  llO'per  month;  the  servants  generally  arrange  with  the  cook  for 
"chow,"  or  food,  at  $2  to  $2.50  per  month.  ' 

The  staple  article  of  food  is  rice,  and  the  ordinary  cost  of  nourish- 
ment for  laborers  and  the  industrial  classes  of  Chinese  is  from  $2  to 
$2.50  per  month,  according  to  fluctuations  in  the  value  of  rice  and  the 
native  ground-nut  oil  (in  lieu  of  butter),  and  morsels  of  pork,  fish,  &c. 
In  fact,  the  cost  of  living  has  been  reduced  to  the  minimum  standard, 
and  all  seem  to  be  healthy  and  contented  ;  and  as  for  industry,  every 
ounce  of  muscle  in  men,  women  (and  children  above  three  years  of  age) 
is  utilized  until  indolence  is  scarcely  visible. 

The  currency  of  the  common  people  is  a  small  copper  coin  called 
"  cash,"  equivalent  to  about  1  mill,  or  one- tenth  of  a  cent,  and  that  of 
the  business  classes  in  silver,  for  weighing  which  nearly  every  one  is 
supplied  with  coin-scales  or  small  wooden  substitutes  for  "steel-yards." 

There  is  very  little  chance  for  any  one  to  get  out  of  the  groove  of  life 
in  which  his  lot  is  cast. 

Although  the  severities  of  "  caste,"  as  known  in  some  countries  of 
Asia  are  not  in  force  in  China,  the  boundaries  and  spheres  of  the  vari- 
ous classes  are  clearly  defined  and  practically  recognized  and  enforced. 

If  the  working  people  of  the  United  States  were  compelled  subsist 
on  the  dirt,  and  conform  to  the  economies  of  Asia,  which  holds  half  of  the 
population  of  the  globe^and  realized  the  miserable  scale  or  standard  of 
human  existence  prevalent  in  these  cheap-labor  countries,  between  which 
and  the  well  requited  industry  of  the  United  States  the  adoption  of  in- 
ternational agrarianism  would  establish  an  average  ;  there  would  be  less 
clamor  in  favor  of  a  pernicious  policy  which  contemplates  competition 
between  two  systems  of  labor,  with  the  certainty  of  leveling  down 
American  labor  to  the  point  at  which  it  is  proposed  to  elevate  the  value 
of  Asiatic  labor,  which  is  satisfied  with  from  20  to  50  cents  per  day,  and 
garbage  for  food. 

CHARLES  SEYMOUR, 

Consul. 

United  States  Consulate, 

Canton,  China,  June  9,  1884. 


CONTINENT  OF  AFRICA. 


MOEOCCO. 

REPORT  BY  CO^SVL  MATHEWS. 

In  compliance  with  your  labor  circular,  dated  February  15  (which  I 
only  received  last  mouth  from  California,  where  it  was  sent  with  my 
mail  from  here),  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  the  statistics  of 
labor  wages  in  this  country. 

The  cost  of  living  varies  in  accordance  with  the  position  and  character 
of  the  workmen,  as,  where  town-people  are  in  the  habit  of  buying 
meat,  fish,  and  wheaten  bread,  the  countrymen  can  live  on  oaten  cakes 
or  bread  made  of  dari  seed,  which  does  not  cost  above  3  cents  per  per- 
son per  day,  where  in  the  town  the  average  would  be  from  7  to  10  cents 
for  a  laborer's  food. 

The  working  classes  are  generally  of  abstemious  habits ;  though  not 
generally  trustworthy,  they  are  steady  and  hard  working  when  well 
looked  after ;  otherwise  they  are  neglectful ;  as  a  rule  they  are  not  sav- 
ing and  only  live  from  day  to  day. 

The  feeling  between  employers  and  emploj-^s  is  only  indifferent; 
neither  of  them  takes  interest  in  the  other's  M^elfare  ;  hence  their  lack  of 
prosperity. 

There  is  uo  organization  in  the  condition  of  labor  nor  of  capital ;  all 
is  conventional,  and  labor  and  capital  are  simply  relative  to  demand 
and  supply. 

Strikes  are  unknown  in  the  country,  workmen  being  always  to  be 
found  to  replace  those  who  may  refuse  work. 

No  coiulitions  are  imposed  to  laborers  with  regard  to  the  purchase  of 
their  necessaries  of  life.  The  wages  are  paid  in  native  currency  or 
Spanish  coins  at  current  rate  of  exchange. 

There  are  no  co-operative  societies,  not  sufficient  interest  being  taken 
by  the  people  to  better  the  condition  of  each  other. 

The  gineral  condition  of  the  working  jjeople  is  not  of  the  most  envia- 
ble, being  themselves  careless  of  the  future,  they  spend  all  they  gain, 
and  when  sickness  or  old  age  conies  they  have  recource  to  charity. 
(■  There  are  neither  mines,  factories,  nor  other  enterprises  where  a  num- 
ber of  workmen  are  employed.  The  great  mineral  resources  of  the 
country  are  not  permitted  to  be  developed. 

•Workmen  have  no  political  rights,  nor  seek  any;  they  have  no  influ- 
ence and  no  special  legislation  is  established  with  regard  to  them.  Few, 
if  any,  working  i^eople  ever  emigrate. 

FEMALE  LABOR. 

It  is  impossible  to  get  at  anything  like  a  fair  estimate  of  what  num- 
ber of  women  and  children  are  employed  in  any  district  of  Morocco. 
All  depends  upon  the  condition  of  the  country  and  the  abundance  of 

349 


350 


LABOR    IN   AFRICA:    MOROCCO. 


crops  or  otherwise,  as  when  crops  are  pleutifiil  field  labor  is  preferred, 
and  the  uilmber  of  hands  workiug  in  the  town  gets  reduced  by  nearly 
75  per  cent,  over  other  times  when  scarcity  compels  them  to  seek  work  in. 
towns. 

Women  and  children  as  a  rule  work  at  minimum  rate  of  wages,  and 
no  distinction  of  any  sort  is  made  between  them  and  men  as  to  the  treat- 
ment or  provisions,  &c. 

There  has  been  an  increase  of  wages  generally  within  the  last  five 
years,  something  like  25  to  35  per  cent.,  for  as  much  as  workmen  and 
women  generally  ask  higher  pay  as  they  recover  from  the  effects  of  the 
famine  which  compelled  them  to  abandon  the  fields  and  seek  work  at 
any  price. 

The  average  here  is  calculated  on  one-half  of  highest  and  lowest 
wages,  the  greater  portion  of  workmen,  women,  and  children  being  paid 
at  the  medium  rates,  more  especially  as  the  improved  condition  of  the 
fields  and  country  keeps  away  from  town  most  of  the  cheaper  hands. 

The  hours  of  labor  for  working  people  hired  by  the  day  in  Morocco 
are  from  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  half  past  3  in  the  afternoon,  and 
from  6  in  the  morning  to  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  occupying  one  hour 
at  noon  for  rest. 

The  education  among  the  Moors,  such  as  it  is,  belongs  exclusively  to 
the  male  sex. 

FELIX  A.  MATHEWS, 

Consul, 

United  States  Consulate, 

Tangier,  November  6,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

^oges  jiaid  per  day  often  to  ticelve  hours  in  Tangier. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayora $0  50  $150  $0  75 

Hod-carriers 10  25  17J 

Masons 50  2  00  125 

Tenders 25  75  50 

Plasterers 100  2  00  150 

Tenders 25  75  50 

Slaters 50  100  75 

Hoofers 50  1  00  75 

Tenders 25  75  50 

Plumbers 50  2  00  125 

Assistants 25  75  50 

Carpenters 50  150  100 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Eaters 40  100  70 

Blacksmiths 20  150-  85 

Strikers 10  50  30 

Book-binders 20  100  60 

Brick-makers 10  50  30 

Butchers 10  80  45 

Brass-founders 50  150  100 

Cabinet-makers 50  2  00  125 

Confectioners 40  100  70 

Coopers 40  2  00  120 

Cutlers .' 40  150  95 

Distillers 10  50  30 

Drivers 10  50  30 

Dra3rmen  and  teamsters 10  20  15 


Average. 


LABOR    IN   AFRICA:    MOROCCO.  351 

Wages  paid  per  day  often  to  twelve  hours  in  Tangier — Continued. 


Occnpationa. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Other  trades— Continued. 


Dyers 

Engravers 

Furriers.... 

Gardeners.  I 

Hoi'sesboers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Potters  

Printers 

Teacliors,  public  schools 

Saddle  and  harness  makers. 

Stevedores 

Tanners 

Tailors 

Tinsmiths 

"Weavers  (outside  of  mills)  . 


$1  00 

1  00 
80 
40 
40 
80 
40  I 
75 

2  00 

1  00 

2  00 
2  00 

1  00 

2  00 
1  00 
1  00 


$0  65 
70 
50 
30 
30 
50 
25 
50 

1  25 
75 

1  20 

1  25 
60 

1  20 
60 
70 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  of  six  days  in  stores,  wholesale  and  retail,  to  males  and 
females  in  Tangier  and  other  parts  of  Morocco. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$1  20 
2  40 
1  00 

$6  00 
7  50 
3  00 

$3  60 
4  95 

Clerks 

2  00 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  citjes.-' 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  household  servants  (toivns  and  cities)  in  Morocco,  with,  board. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$2  00 

$10  00 

5  00 

15  00 

5  00 

15  00 

3  00 

10  00 

5  00 

15  00 

5  00 

15  00 

General  servants 

"Waiters 

Grooms 

Stablemen 

Stewards  and  butlers 
Cooks  


$6  00 
10  00 
10  00 
6  50 
10  00 
10  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  employes  i?i  Government  departments  and  offices — exclusive  of 
tradesmen  and  laborers — in  Tangier  and  neighborhood. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$30  00 
10  00 
5  00 

60  00 
15  00 
10  00 

$60  00 
20  00 
15  00 

90  0* 
45  00 
30  00 

$45  00 

15  00 

10  00 

Customhouse: 

75  00 

25  00 

20  00 

352  LABOR  IN  AFRICA:  CAPE  COLONY. 

CAPE  COLONY. 

REPORT  BY  CONSUL  SILER,  OF  CAPE  TOWN: 

To  report  upon  the  labor  question  in  South  Africa  is  a  matter  of  much 
difficulty,  inasmuch  as  the  scattered  nature  of  the  population,  the  vary- 
ing conditions  of  the  different  districts,  and  the  peculiarity  of  its  indus- 
trial jjursuits  render  generalization  almost  impossible ;  and  details,  if 
possible,  are  yet  more  difficult  to  obtain.  In  the  outlying  hamlets,  at 
a  distance  from  easy  communication,  wages  depend  almost  entirely 
upon  the  demand  for  any  special  kind  of  labor,  particularly  mechan- 
ical. A  carpenter  who  in  Cape  Town  may  earn  6.s.  a  day,  would,  prob- 
ably, under  certain  circumstances,  treble  that  amount  in  an  interior 
country  town  ;  this  advance  of  wages  would  be  due  to  the  circumstance 
that  a  sudden  demand  for  that  class  of  labor  had  arisen,  and  so  with  all 
other  hands. 

A  steady  mechanic  may  generally  rely  on  constant  work  at  remuner- 
ative rates,  but  the  prices  of  provisions  varying  considerably  in  differ- 
ent localities,  the  ratio  between  the  cost  of  living  and  the  rate  of  wages 
is  hard  to  determine.  At  the  present  time  depression  is  widespread, 
and  as  the  mechanic  is  generally  the  first  to  feel  the  falling  off"  of  trade, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  many  skilled  laborers  have  recently  emigrated 
to  more  favorable  lands.  The  Government  railways  have  for  some 
years  employed  a  considerable  number  of  skilled  laborers,  and  at  the 
present  time  a  mechanic  considers  himself  uncommonly  fortunate  when 
he  obtains  emi)loyment  under  Government. 

Perhaps,  next  to  railways,  the  greatest  demand  for  skilled  labor  is  at 
the  diamond  fields.  The  whole  of  the  unskilled  labor  employed  there 
is  native.  Engine  drivers,  titters,  carpenters,  blacksmiths,  and  some 
other  classes  of  tradesmen  receive  comparatively  high  wages,  but  the 
cost  of  living  there  is  more  than  proportionately  heavy.  In  the  copper 
mines  most  of  the  heavy  work  is  x>erformed  by  native  labor  at  low 
wages. 

Manufactures  in  Cape  Colony  may  be  fairly  stated  as  non-existent. 
A  few  boots  and  shoes  are  made,  but  nine-tenths  of  the  finished  leather 
is  inii)orted. 

With  regard  to  wood- work  there  is  little  done  beyond  actual  imme- 
diate local  requirements;  even  staves  for  the  barrels  and  casks  required 
in  the  wine  trade  are  imported.  Wagons  and  carts  for  rough  country 
work  are  made  to  a  limited  extent,  but  the  better  class  of  vehicles  come 
from  foreign  sources. 

Tlie  wine  industry  is  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  Dutch  and  Hugue- 
not settlers  in  tlie  vicinity  of  Capetown,  whose  employes  and  laborers 
still  live  in  the  old  patriarchal  style,  either  in  the  homestead  or  on  the 
property  of  their  employers.  Kearly  every  process  necessary  for  the 
manufacture  of  wine  is  performed  by  native  labor  under  the  immediate 
direction  of  the  viticultural  farmer  or  his  relatives.  Of  late  there  have 
been  established  several  breweries,  doing  a  good  business  in  the  lighter 
brews  ;  but  this  is  a  matter  more  of  experience  and  capital  than  labor. 

Up  to  the  time  of  tbe  present  business  depression,  which  has  now 
extended  over  two  years,  the  artisan  was  the  most  independent  man  in 
the  country,  and  frequently  commanded  his  own  price  and  dictated  his 
own  hours  of  labor ;  particularly  was  this  so  in  the  remote  districts. 


LABOR  IN  AP'RICA:  CAPE  COLONY. 


353 


Any  man  may  enjoy  the  privilege  of  the  elective  franchise  here  by 
taking-  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Crown,  and  registering-  his  name 
at  the  voting  precinct.  IJut  with  the  possible  exception  of  Cape  Town 
and  Kiinberley,  tlie  workingaieu  as  a  body  have  no  distinct  political 
influence. 

I  know  of  no  effort  having  been  made  here  for  the  moral  iiii[)rove- 
ment  and  elevation  of  the  laborer.  However,  the  Europeans  and  those 
of  European  extraction  will  ])robably  compare  favorably  with  men  of 
their  class  in  most  countries  5  but  the  condition  of  the  native  laborer 
is  wretched  and  degraded  beyond  conception.  He  is  regarded  by  his 
■white  brother  as  no  better  than  a  beast  of  the  field,  and  it  is"  doubtful 
if  his  own  opinion  of  himself  differs  very  materially;  drink  is  his  bane, 
a  sui)ply  is  always  near  at  hand,  and  he  will  eagerly  barter  his  food 
and  clothes  in  exchange  for  it. 

There  are  no  societies  or  trades  union  among  the  workingmen  of 
this  colony ;  indeed  between  them  there  seems  to  be  no  common  ob- 
ject or  interest.  It  is  true  that  a  somewhat  serious  strike,  terminating 
in  a  riot  in  which  some  lives  were  lost,  occurred  among  the  mining- 
laborers  at  Kimberley  some  months  since,  but  that  had  no  relation 
to  wages  or  hours  of  labor,  but  was  simply  a  protest  against  a  law 
recently  enacted  which  required  every  employe  to  be  stripped  and 
searched  on  ascending  from  the  mines.  This  seemed,  and  was,  a  hu- 
miliating ordeal  for  white  men  to  submit  to,  but  they  did  eventually 
submit  to  it. 

In  the  following  schedule  of  wages  and  prices  of  food  and  clothing 
I  have  taken  the  rates  obtaining  in  different  districts  and  localities, 
and  endeavored  to  reduce  the  same  to  a  general  average;  and  the 
result  arrived  at  I  believe  to  be  reliable. 

J  AS.  W.  SILEPv, 

Consid. 

United  States  Consulate, 

C((2)€  Toicn,  July  22,  1.^84. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Cape  Town. 


Occupations. 


,  Lowest. 


BUILDIXG  TUADES. 

Bricklayers $7  OU 

Hod-carriers 3  CO 

Masons 7  OO 

Tenders 2  50 

Plasterers 6  00 

Tenders  2  50 

Slaters    9  00 

Koofei  s 9  on 

Tenders 'j  50 

Plumbers 8  00 

Assistants '_'  50 

Carpeutors 7  00 

Gas-fitters 6  00 

OTHEK  TICADES. 

Bakers 7  L'9 

Blacksmiths 8  00 

Strikers U  00 

Btiok-bindi^rs ,->  00 

Brick-makers 5  oo 

92a— 2  lab 23 


Highest. 

Average. 

$12  00 

$10  00 

6  00 

4  75 

12  00 

10  00 

4  75 

3  60 

8  00 

7  00 

4  75 

;i  60 

12  00 

10  50 

12  00 

10  50 

4  75 

3  60 

10  00 

9  00 

5  00 

3  00 

12  00 

10  00 

8  00 

7  00 

10  94 

7  47 

11  00 

9  00 

7  50 

6  50 

9  00 

7  20 

9  00 

7  20 

354  LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    CAPE    COLONY. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  Cape  Toivn — Continued. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Other  trades— Continued. 

Brewers $7  00 

Butchers I  10  00 

Brass-founders I  8  00 

Cabinet-makers j  8  00 

Confectioners !  5  00 

Cigar-makers 8  00 

Coopers 8  00 

Cutlers j  7  00 

Distiders 10  00 

Drivers 5  00 

Draymen  and  teamsters I  5  00 

Cab  and  carriage  i  o  00 

Street  railways '  6  00 

Dyers   j  5  00 

Engravers ;  8  00 

Gardeners i  5  00 

Hatters  8  00 

Hor.«ie  shoers I  8  00 

Jewelers 8  00 

Laboreis,  porters,  &c |  3  00 

Litbographers i  10  00 

Mill-wrights i  8  00 

Printers j  7  00 

Teachers,  public  schools   ,  8  00 

Saddle  and  harness  makers ,  5  00 

Sail-makers j  5  00 

Stevedores 8  00 

Tanners .5  00 

Tailors i  7  00 

Telegraph  operators 8  00 

Tinsmiths 7  00 


Highest.    Average. 


$11  00 

$9  00 

12  00 

U  00 

12  00 

10  00 

12  00 

10  00 

8  00 

7  00 

12  00 

10  00 

12  GO 

10  00 

11  00 

8  00 

14  00 

12  00 

G  00 

5  50 

6  00 

5  50 

7  00 

6  00 

8  00 

7  00 

8  00 

6  50 

IX  00 

9  00 

12  00 

8  00 

13  00 

11  00 

11  00 

9  00 

12  00 

10  00 

5  00 

4  00 

16  00 

12  00 

12  00 

7  50 

15  00 

11  00 

15  00 

12  00 

8  00 

7  00 

10  00 

8  00 

14  00 

11  00 

12  00 

9  00 

10  00 

8  50 

12  00 

10  Oft 

13  00 

11  00 

YI.  Eailway  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  railwaii  emplotjes  (those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  en- 
gaged on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  ^-c.)  in  Cape  Colony. 


Occupations. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Maintenance  department. 

General  inspectors 

Inspectors 

Subinspectors 

Timekeepers 

Scale  examiner 

Detectives 

Yard  foremen 

Foremen  carpenters 

Carpenters 

Blacksmiths 

Gangers 

Platelayers 

Masons 

Painters 

Plumbers 

Strikers 

Fitters 

Sawyers 

Sail-niakors 

Watclimen 

Laborers 

Otlice  attendants 

Traffic  department. 

Foremen 

Gnaids 

Foremen  ticket  collectors 

Ticket  collectors 

Shunters 

Porte  IS 


2  10 
1  92 
1  84 

1  60 

2  43 
2  43 
1  58 
1  56 
1  46 

81 
1  82 
1  33 

1  20 
48 

2  55 
1  33 
1  46 
1  20 

30 
97  I 


1  20 
1  40 
1  58 
1  48 
1  46 
73  I 


$4  00 
2  90 
2  20 
2  25 
2  10 

1  60 

2  75 
2  45 
2  20 
2  60 

1  95 
97 

2  43 
2  20 
2  20 

1  40 

2  55 
2  45 
1  46 
1  20 
1  20 
1  10 


1  78 

2  00 
1  58 
1  48 
1  78 
1  45 


$3  75. 
2  50 
2  14 
2  00 
1  90 

1  60 

2  50 
2  44 
1  75 
1  90 
1  60 

85 
1  95 
1  50 

1  60 
80 

2  55 
1  50 
1  46 
1  20 

50 
1  00 


1  30 
1  60 
1  5» 
148 
1  .55 
90 


LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    CAPE    COLONY.  355 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  railway  employes,  tjc. — Coutiuuecl. 


Occupations. 


■Watcliiiien  . .. 
Signalmen  ... 
Sijiiialwomen. 


Traffic  department — Continued. 


Timekeopers 

Oitice  bovs 

Foremen : 

Locomotive  works 

Kiinuiug  sliod  .-. . 

Oarriase  

Smiths 

Pattern  makers 

Koiloi -niaker.s 


Locomotive  department. 


Helper.s  . . . 

Fittei  s 

^Tin8mitllS 

Coppersmitlis  . 
Spring-makers. 
Blacksmitlis... 

Stiikers  . . . 
Turners 


Bra,ss.tinisher8 

^laclunista 

Mold.-rs : 

Iron 


Brass 

Assistants 
Drillers 


Carriage  makers  and  .joiners 
Painters: 

Kngine 

(;arriage 

Trimmers 


Saw.yer.s 

Sail-makers 

Laborers  (European  and  native). 

Engine-drivers 

Engine  tiremen 

Cleaners  (European  and  native) . 

Stationary-engine  drivers 

Shedmeu 

Watchmen    

Pumpers  ( European  and  native) . 
Carriage  and  wagon  examiners.. 

Wagon-lifters 

Apprentices 

Boys  , 


Highest.  I  Average. 


Gatemen 

Wheelmen 

Brick-archmen  . 
Carriage-fitters. 


1  21 

48 

2  87 

3  24 
3  04 
3  44 
2  69 
2  69 
1  07 

1  88 

2  16 
2  43 
2  73 
1  88 
1  21 

1  76 

2  73 
1  21 

1  48 

2  98 
54 

1  29 
1  62 

1  21 

C6 

1  21 

1  35 

1  76 

95 

1  70 

1  09 

24 

40 

1  35 
54 
54 

2  29 
1  21 

40 

48 

1  46 

1  21 

1  03 

2  29 


$1  20 

1  40 

75 


1  94 
60  I 

3  65 

3  68 
3  04 
3  46 

2  73 
2  83 

1  88 

2  98 
2  16 
2  43 

2  73 

3  04 

1  82 

2  98 
2  73 
2  73 

2  98 
2  98 
1  21 

1  62 

2  73 

2  73 
2  43 
2  02 

1  76 

2  69 

1  62 

2  43 
1  70 
1  46 
1  88 
1  82 
1  58 

1  58 

2  43 
2  06 
1  48 

48 
1  46 
1  62 

1  03 

2  43 


$1  20 
95 
20 


1  60 
50 

2  50 

3  35 
3  04 
3  45 
2  70 
2  72 

1  45 

2  65 
2  16 
2  43 
2  73 
2  10 

1  40 

2  60 
2  73 
2  20 

2  10 

2  98 

80 

1  40 

1  50 

2  20 
1  50 
1  65 
1  40 
1  90 
1  25 
1  95 
1  30 

75 
1  70 
1  40 
1  10 

1  00 

2  35 
1  85 

70 

48 

1  46 

1  30 

1  03 

2  30 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wayen  paid  per  monih  to  seamen  (officers  and  men)  in  Cape  Town,  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.  I  Average. 


First  mates $30  00 

Second  mates 

Seamen : 

Able 

Ordinary 

Boys 

Cabin  stewards 

Cabin  cooks 

Ships"  cooks 


$30  00 

$50  00 

$35  00 

20  00 

30  00 

25  00 

10  00 

15  00 

12  00 

8  00 

10  00 

9  00 

4  00 

7  00 

5  00 

18  00 

30  00 

2(1  00 

25  00 

40  00 

30  00 

20  00 

30  00 

'l-o   00 

Note.— The  above  figures  give  a  fair  average  of  the  wages  out  of  this  port,  whether  hy  steam  or  sail- 
ing vessels,  ocean-going  or  coastwise.  There  are  no  livcr-guing  craft  in  the  colony  and  no  really 
navigable  streams.  However,  shipping  of  men  at  this  port  is  mostly  confined  to  sailing  vessels ;  the 
mail  steamers  shipping  their  crews  in  England  for  the  entire  voyage — outward  and  return. 


356 


LABOR  IN  AFRICA:  CAPE  COLONY. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 


Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  io  males  and  females,  in 
Cape  Town,  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 


Occupations. 


Book-keepers  

Assistant  book-keepers 
Salesmen,  dry  goods. . . 
Saleswomen,  dry  goods 

Shop-walkers     

Salesmen,  hardware  — 

Porters 

Boys 

Chemists'  assistants . .  - 

Grocery  clerks 

Barmen 

Barmaids 

Shipping  clerks 


$10  00 

$30  00 

$20  00 

5  00 

10  00  , 

7  00 

8  00 

15  00  , 

10  00 

5  00  1 

7  00  , 

6  00 

8  00  i 

15  00 

10  00 

10  00  [ 

20  00  ; 

15  00 

5  00 

6  00 

5  50 

2  50 

4  00 

3  00 

10  00  1 

20  00 

12  00 

5  00  ( 

12  00  : 

8  00 

5  00 

10  00  1 

8  00 

6  00 

12  00 

9  00 

8  00  1 

16  00 

10  00 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Waxfes  paid  per  weeli  of  Jifty-foiir  hours  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Cape  Town, 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$6  00 

8  00 

20  00 

10  00 

7  50 
12  00 

8  00 
7  50 
4  50 

12  00 

$6  00 
12  00 
20  00 
10  00 

7  50 
12  00 

8  00 
7  50 
4  50 

12  00 

$6  00 

10  00 

Engineers,  steam  fire-engines 

20  00 
10  00 

7  50 

12  00 

8  00 

7  50 

4  50 

Overseer  water  supply 

12  00 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  annum  to  employes  of  Government,  exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers,  in 

Cape  Town,  Cape  Colony. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Ministerial  departments,  civil  establishment 

Chief  clerks 

Clerks 

Messengers  

Storekeepers 

Jailers 

Office-keepers 

Interpreters 


$15  00 

$20  00 

$18  00 

5  00  i 

12  00 

9  00 

3  00 

5  00 

3  50 

12  00 

17  50 

13  00 

4  00  : 

4  00 

4  00 

4  00 

5  00 

4  50 

5  00  , 

7  50 

6  00 

LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    SENEGAL. 

Price  of  provisions  ihroiKjIioiit  Capr  Colony. 


357 


Articlea.  Price. 


Oatmeal per  pound..  $0  12 

Flour do 07 

Bread do....  07 

Mutton do 14 

Beef do...  13 

Pork do....  20 

Bacon do 30 

Butter: 

Fresh do 1  54 

Salt do...  44 

Herrings per  tin . . ;  .'54 

Cheese per  pound . .  ]  :!4 

Tea do . . .  ;  (^0 

Coflfee do...  L'4 

Sugar do ,  11 

Rice do i  07 

Tobacco : 

Colonial do 36 

Manufactured  do '  100 

Kaisins  and  dried  fiuits do 13 

Salt  (colonial) per  bushel..  94 

Pepper per  pound. .  28 

Beer : 

English per  bottle. .  34 

Colonial do 15 


Articles. 


Wine  (ordinary) per  gaUon 

'  Brandy  (colonial) do.  - 

j  Milk.r perhottle. 

Candleb per  pound 

I  Larap-oil per  gallon 

I  Kerosene do . . 

:  Shirts each 

1  Shoes per  pair 

Jackets each 

Waistcoats do  . 

Trowsers per  pair 

Hats each 

Bonnets... do  . 

Boots  (women's) per  pair 

("alico  per  yard 

Flannels do.. 

I  Coats each 

j  Prints per  yard 

!  Shawls  each 

I  Sheetings per  yard 

I  Shirts  (flannel) 

!  Socks per  pair 

j  Blankets do  . 

Counterpanes each 

Mattresses do  . 


Price. 


$1  25 

1  96 

0  08 

28 

76 

60 

1  50 

2  50 

3  25 

1  50 

3  00 

1  50 

75 

2  20 

12 

55 

5  00 

14 

2  90 

48 

1  86 

26 

5  00 

2  60 

7  25 

SENEGAL. 

li'EI'ORT  BY  CONSUL  STRICELAND,  OF  GOREE-DAKAK. 

As  Senegal  is  merely  a  colony  with  bat  comparatively  few  European 
iiilial)itaiits,  a  detailed  report  from  it  based  on  statistics  is,  of  course, 
not  to  be  expected,  and  yet  there  are  phases  of  life  among  tradesmen  here 
which  cannot  but  prove  interesting  to  many  of  our  people,  and  for  their 
sake  I  can  give  something  of  the  general  result  of  my  observations  for 
tlie  last  twenty  years. 

DIVISION   OF  LABOR. 

ximong  Europeans  here  the  lines  drawn  between  the  different  trades 
and  professions,  of  course,  coiTespond  with  those  drawn  between  tlie 
same  trades  and  professions  in  the  mother  country — France,  but  among 
the  natives  the  most  varied  habits  prevail,  all,  however,  being  strongly 
pervaded  by  the  spell  of  that  eastern  institution,  caste.  A  carpenter 
would  lose  half  a  day  rather  than  degrade  his  occupation  to  that  of  a 
laborer  by  carrying  a  board  he  wanted  to  use  a  block.  A  sailor  would 
see  any  quantity  of  merchandise  si)oil  by  rain  on  a  wharf  rather  than 
risk  being  called  a  land  lul)ber  should  he  assist  in  removing  it.  A  man 
among  the  natives  wonld  almost  sooner  suffer  martyrdom  than  do  work 
which  is  accounted  as  belonging  to  a  woman  to  do,  and  for  the  most 
part  the  native  women  seem  to  have  no  inclination  to  intermeddle  in 
what  are  deemed  i)roper  eni])loyments  for  men. 

This  caste  feeling  among  the  natives  of  both  sexes  no  doubt  contrib- 
utes to  retard  their  advancement:  but  it  cannot  be  denied  that,  consid- 
ering their  disadvantages,  some  of  the  native  trades-people  perform  their 
work  surprisingly  well.  AVe  have  now  in  Goree  native  carpenters, 
Joiners,  blacksmiths,  and  masons  who  habitually  turn  out  perhaps  bet- 
ter work  than  can  be  had  from  the  average  of  our  tradesmen  in  the 
same  lines  of  industry.  This,  however,  is  doubtless  owing  to  the  thor- 
oughness of  their  seven-year  apprenticeships. 


358  LABOR   IN    AFRICA:    SENEGAL. 

WAGES. 

The  wages  of  carpenters,  masous,  and  otber  tradesmen  of  Senegal 
average  about  the  same,  being  75  cents  per  day  for  males  just  out  of 
their  apprenticesbip  and  $1.15  for  experienced  hands.  Sailor.5  get  about 
$7.50  per  month,  and  male  servants,  including  cooks,  from  $8  to  $20  per 
month,  according  to  their  proficiency.  Female  servants  and  cooks  get 
from  $6  to  $10  a  month;  they  are  seldom  liked  as  well  as  their  male  com- 
petitors, either  as  servants  or  cooks.  Even  the  European  ladies  resident 
here  usually  prefer  male  attendants.  This  is  largely  due  to  theiaore  preva- 
lent disposition  among  the  females  to  shirk  their  duties.  They  are  not 
near  so  reliable  and  painstaking  as  the  males,  though  as  common  labor- 
ers, where  much  care  and  fidelity  are  not  requisite,  they  appear  to  do 
more  in  proportion  to  their  strength  and  the  wages  they  receive  than 
the  men.  The  average  price  of  male  labor  is  at  present  about  50  cents 
a  day,  and  for  female  25  cents. 

Further  south,  however,  women  only  get  12^  cents  per  day.  Women 
are  largely  employed  in  transporting  light  articles  which  can  be  carried 
on  the  head.  They  carry  their  babies  at  the  same  time,  tied  by  a  strip 
of  cloth  astride  their  hips,  and  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  women 
in  the  last  stages  of  pregnancy  trudging  along  all  day,  under  their  va- 
rious burdens,  for  the  last-named  miserable  pittance.  They  api)ear 
quite  joyous,  however,  smoke  their  pipes  constantlj'  when  they  can  get 
tobacco,  and  literally  "take  no  thought  for  the  morrow." 

COST   OF   LIVING. 

The  cost  of  living  in  Senegal  is  on  the  whole  much  dearer  than  might 
be  expected,  due  (o  causes,  however,  which  might  be  prevented,  and  of 
which  I  shall  say  something  hereafter.  Corn  ranges  from  80  cents  to 
$1.30  per  bushel;  beef,  whether  shin  pieces  or  sirloin,  is  10  cents  a 
pound ;  eggs  are  2  cents  apiece,  and  average  very  small ;  rice  and  fish 
are  the  cheapest  articles  of  food,  the  former  retailing  for  4  or  5  cents  a 
pound,  and  the  latter  selling  sometimes  for  less  than  1  cent  a  pound. 
Eice,  with  a  condiment  of  meat,  fish,  tomatoes,  or  j)alm  oil,  is  the  ortho- 
dox dish,  and  constitutes  the  main  article  of  food  for  the  natives.  The 
better  class  of  natives,  however,  when  observed  by  Europeans,  copy 
after  them,  but  when  alone  with  the  rest  they  also  love  to  squat  cross- 
legged  around  their  immense  calabashes  of  rice,  fish,  and  palm  oil, 
bailing  with  both  fists  into  the  greasy  mass  until  they  are  filled  to  reple- 
tion and  no  more  can  be  swallowed.  In  doing  this  they  usually  litter 
the  ground  as  badly  as  parrots  would  in  feeding.  Most  of  them  appear 
to  have  no  idea  of  ecomony,  and  when  liberally  supplied,  even  at  their 
own  expense,  will  waste  by  carelessness  and  inattention  almost  as  much 
as  they  eat.  If  the  jieople  of  Senegal  were  all  civilized  in  their  habits, 
and  more  industrious,  the  cost  of  living  here  would  be  much  less  than 
in  the  United  States. 

This  is  undoubtedly  a  rich  country,  and,  as  things  are,  its  almost  wild 
natural  ])roducts  suffice  to  support  in  comparative  idleness  and  vice 
quite  a  large  population.  Under  cultivation  Senegambia  would  be  one 
of  the  most  producti^'e  countries  in  the  world. 

COMMUNISM. 

Communism  is  not  a  theory  among  the  inhabitants  of  Senegal,  but 
an  institution  which  has  existed  "  from  eternity,"  and  it  bids  fair  to  be 
as  permanent  as  the  barbarism  of  the  race.     All  earnings  in  effect  are 


LABOR  IN  AFRICA:  SENEGAL.  359 

engrossed  iu  a  common  stock,  so  that  when  it  comes  to  eating  and  drink- 
ing, all  arc  on  terms  of  the  most  perfect  equality.  This  explains  the 
apparent  hosi)ita]ity  of  most  eastern  i)eoples,  for  Mhere  it  is  anniversal 
custom  to  have  everything  in  common,  tlie  matter  of  giving  freely  to 
strangers,  from  whom  as  much  in  like  circuuistances  would  invariably 
be  expected,  is  hardly  as  meritorious  as  might  at  first  sight  be  supposed. 
When  seated  around  their  calabash  of  rice  and  jjalm  oil  all  distinctions 
appear  to  be  forgotten,  and  not  a  word  is  said  or  gesture  given  to  create 
a  sense  of  unworthiness  in  any  of  the  recipients,  be  they  in  i)ublic  esti- 
mation good  or  bad,  provident  or  im])rovident,  deserving  or  undeserving, 
industrious  or  lazy. 

TLus  in  certain  moral  aspects  the  system  seems  an  admirable  one, 
but  in  reality  it  is  all  in  the  seeming ;  there  are  no  positive  ui)building 
Airtues  in  communism.  As  an  illustration  of  its  evil  effects,  1  know  of 
a  blight,  industrious  young  carpenter,  of  good  moral  character  in  every 
resjjcct,  who  for  the  last  five  years  has  averaged  in  earnings  at  least 
$25  per  mouth,  and  but  for  this  wretched  system  might  today  have  a 
cottage  of  his  own  with  all  pleasant  surroundings.  Not  more  than  one- 
third  of  his  earnings  are  spent  on  himself,  the  rt^st  all  being  a])j)ropri- 
ated  by  a  i)arcel  ot  lazy,  improvident,  and  oftentiuies  vicious  leeches,  not 
one  of  whom  would  work  like  him  for  a  day  unless  driven  to  it  by 
pinching  hunger  or  some  other  dire  necessity.  Communism  is  thus 
largely  res])onsible  for  the  almost  utter  indifference  of  the  mass  of  na- 
tives toward  having  their  condition  improved  ;  but  in  its  "  struggle  for 
existence"  with  Euro]>ean  civilization  it  must  either  eventually  perish 
or  those  who  hold  to  it  will  become  a  burden  to  the  colony.  As  yet  but 
little  has  been  accomplished  towards  weaning  the  natives  from  their 
communistic  habits  and  sentiments,  and  as  a  result  there  are  but  few 
instances  of  thrift  and  prosperity  among  them.  Unless  the  whole  bar- 
ren mountain  mass  can  be  moved  bodily  no  diamonds  are  to  be  had. 
This  is  communism,  and  its  tendenc}^  especially  when  it  must  compete 
with  a  high  civilization,  is  toward  poverty,  extinction,  and  death. 
There  is  hope,  however,  that  with  the  division  of  the  country  into  small 
farms,  and  a  more  extensive  development  of  the  i)resent  school  system, 
a  better  state  of  things  will  prevail. 

INTEMPERANCE. 

Drunkenness  to  a  greater  or  lesser  extent  seems  to  be  the  general 
condition  of  the  vast  majority  of  the  trades  and  other  people  of  Sene- 
gal who  are  not  Mohammedans.  Drunkenness  to  an  extent  which  stupe- 
fies all  the  faculties  is  not  perhai)s  so  prevalent  here  as  in  Europe;  the 
difticulty  is,  driukiug,  with  the  vices  and  miseries  which  attend  it,  are 
here  almost  universal,  and  outside  the  settlements  there  are  no  re- 
straints of  law  to  protect  the  innocent  from  the  murderous  disj^psition 
which  drunkenness  often  engenders.  It  is  my  deliberate  conviction 
that  it  costs  the  native  trades-people  iu  Senegambia  more  for  rum  than 
it  does  for  food,  and  what  makes  it  very  annoying  for  their  employers, 
is  the  fact  that  their  services  cannot  be  depended  on  so  long  as  they 
have  the  means  in  hand  to  buy  rum.  House  servants  are  as  bad  as  the 
rest,  and  unless  European  families  are  lucky  enough  to  secure  Mohamme- 
dans for  their  cooks  they  can  never  know  when  a  fast  will  be  intruded 
upon'  them.  The  women  in  the  matter  of  drinking  are  if  anything 
worse  than  the  men,  and  if  emi)loyed  for  waiters  are  sure  to  smash  all 
the  crockery  within  their  reach  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time. 
It  is  a  custom  among  them  also  to  form  themselves  into  "drinking 


360  LABOR  IN  AFRICA:  SENEGAL. 

clubs"  of  a  dozen  or  so  each,  aud  whenever  their  accumulated  means 
are  sufficient  to  purchase  three  or  four  gallons  of  liquor,  they  will,  after 
excusing  themselves  from  work  on  some  frivolous  pretext,  meet  at  a 
house  selected  for  the  purpose,  and  indulge  in  orgies  too  terrible  to  be 
described.  It  is  sometimes  a  week  before  they  recover  from  these  de- 
bauches, and  the  interests  of  those  who  are,  after  all,  obliged  to  employ 
them,  suffer  accordingly. 

Added  to  the  annoyance  from  their  drinking  habits  is  also  the  fact 
that  most  of  these  intemperate  women  are  of  such  easy  virtue  in  other 
respects  that  their  husbands  seldom  trust  them,  but  leave  them  for 
others  on  the  slightest  pretexts.  The  women  also  change  partners  as 
often  as  chance  follows  occasion,  so  that  society,  as  we  recognize  the 
term,  scarcely  has  an  existence.  It  is  one  of  the  most  common  of  things 
among  the  so-called  Christian  natives  of  Sen(^gambia  to  see  children, 
brothers  and  sisters  through  tbeir  mother,  but  all  having  different 
fathers,  thus  completely  reversing  the  Mormon  custom,  where  children 
are  often  brothers  and  sisters  through  their  father  but  not  through  their 
mothers.  Scores  of  children  also  die  through  neglect,  exposure,  and 
vile  diseases,  for  which  the  drunken  habits  of  their  mothers  are  directly 
responsible.  That  drunkenness  is  the  principal  cause  of  these  irregu- 
larities and  miseries  is  proA^en  by  the  fact  that  among  the  Mohammedan 
part  of  the  population  things  go  on  a  great  deal  better.  In  a  lair  com- 
parison between  what  is  called  the  native  Christian  population  of  Seue- 
gambiaandthe  Mohammedan  population  the  advantage  without  doubt  is 
in  favor  of  the  latter,  all  owing,  however,  to  their  aversion  to  rum.  And 
it  does  seem  as  though  our  Government  must  be  culpable  in  granting 
drawbacks  on  rum  and  alcohol,  which  is  exported  by  the  ship-load,  to 
debauch  and  destroy  the  unreflecting  inhabitants  of  uncivilized  coun- 
tries. It  is  my  deliberate  conviction  that  rum  in  Africa  is  at  present 
doing  as  much  mischief  as  the  slave  trade  ever  did,  and  that  it  is  a  shame 
for  a  civilized  country  like  the  United  States  to  aid  any  of  its  merchants 
in  exterminating  these  Northern  Zulus  of  Africa. 

FUTURE   PROSPECTS. 

What  the  future  of  labor  is  to  be  in  Senegal,  with  the  present  blight- 
ing infltiences  to  retard  its  higher  development,  it  is,  of  course,  difficult 
to  determine.  Most  of  the  races  which  now  inhabit  the  country  are 
superior  in  physique  as  comjiared  with  other  Africans,  and  if  they  could 
be  subjected  to  good  upbuilding  influences  instead  of  being  poisoned 
physically  and  having  their  moral  faculties  blotted  out  by  iSTew  England 
rum,  they  would  undoubtedly  make  rapid  advances  in  all  the  great  de- 
partments of  industry.  There  is  no  lack  of  capacity  among  the  Faulahs, 
Jalofl's,  and  Mandiugoes,  but  worthy  objects  which  challenge  admiration 
and  im})el  men  to  better  their  condition  are  not  sufficiently  held  up  to 
their  sight.  A  little  is  perhaps  being  accomplished  by  teaching  some 
of  their  children  in  the  parochial  schools,  but  what  is  most  needed  is 
something  to  convince  the  native  mind  that  to  be  truly  prosperous  men 
should  be  temperate,  frugal,  and  industrious.  As  things  are  now  most 
of  tlic  boys  who  have  learned  to  write  their  names  in  school  and  can 
place  flgures  in  row  or  column  expect  to  be  merchants  like  the  Euro- 
peans they  see,  and  think  it  beneath  them  to  i)erform  any  manual  labor. 
They  are  quick  to  observe  and  imitate,  and  if  a  dozen  European  me- 
chanics with  their  families  were  settled  among  them  for  a  spell,  and 
they  could  see  and  realize  how  well  things  can  go  on  among  the  thrifty, 
moral,  and  industrious  who  labor  at  home,  they  would  receive  more 


LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    SIERRA    LEONE.  361 

benefit  than  from  all  tlic  missionaries,  who,  in  the  absence  of  any  such 
examples  to  which  they  can  call  attention,  have  recourse  only  to  dry 
precept  anil  dogma,  which,  to  minds  unaccustomed  to  reason  away  from 
the  animal,  accomplish  very  little  in  the  way  of  enlightenment.  Euro- 
pean mechanics  do  not  emigrate  here  because  the  climate  is  considered 
nnhealtiiy,  but  European  capital  is  seeking  investment  in  railroads, 
])lantati()ns,  and  other  enterprises,  which  must  very  soon  compel  skilled 
labor  in  the  country.  Sugar,  oil,  and  rice  mills  are  already  in  course  of 
construction.  Coastwise  navigation  has  received  considerable  develop- 
ment, new  roads  are  being  built,  and  I  presume  the  time  is  close  at  hand 
in  which  all  branches  of  industry  must  be  developed  and  flourish  in 
Senegal.  Whether  this  will  have  to  be  done  mostly  by  imported  labor, 
or  whether  a  snudl  remnant  of  the  descendants  of  the  present  natives 
will  groAv  out  of  their  pr(»jndices  and  survive  in  spite  of  rum  and  the 
other  poisons  used  to  kill  them,  remains  for  some  future  observer  to 
chronicle. 

PETER  STRICKLAND, 


United  States  Consilate, 

(roree-  Pakar,  July  9, 1884. 


Consul. 


SIEREA   l^EO:NrE. 

REPORT  BY  CO.\SUL  LEWIH. 
COST   OF   LIVING. 

Rice  from  $3.G0  to  $4.80  i)er  100  pounds :  cotton  goods  for  the  clothing 
of  poor  people,  very  low  rates;  rent  of  a  small  house,  $2  per  mouth. 

This  is  without  doubt  a  good  country  for  the  very  poor  or  laboring- 
class  ;  being  warm  the  year  round,  very  little  clothing  or  shelter  is 
needed,  and  rice  and  fish  are  always  to  be  had  at  moderate  prices. 

There  is  really  no  distress  here  for  the  want  of  something  to  eat,  as 
seen  in  Europe  or  the  United  Srates. 

I  don't  think  there  is  any  change  in  the  present  rate  of  wages  and 
those  prevailing  in  1878,  and  conditions  are  about  the  same. 

The  habits  of  the  working  class  are  not  very  trustworthy,  not  saving, 
and  they  spend  all  they  make,  be  it  much  or  little. 

Xo  strikes. 

Working  ])eople  are  i^erfectly  free  to  purchase  the  necessaries  of  life 
where  they  choose.  The  laborer  is  paid  by  the  day,  week,  or  month,  in 
English  coin. 

No  CO  oi)erative  societies. 

(ieneral  condition  of  the  working  people  ?  Some  ])retty  good,  others 
very  bad.  Tiie  common  labtu'cr  only  receives  enough  to  keep  soul  and 
body  togethei-.  and  can  never  lay  nj)  anything  for  sickness  or  old  age; 
but  many  might  if  they  were  not  so  tbnd  of  fine  dress  and  of  following 
in  all  European  customs  of  extravagance. 

Moral  and  ])hysical  conditions  ?  Can't  say  much  in  favor  of  the  for- 
mer, but  ])liysically  they  are  very  hardy,  and  endure  great  hardships. 

WorUingmen  have  all  the  rights  of  any  citizens,  but  their  influence 
on  legislation  is  very  limited. 

There  is  no  direct  taxation  on  ricli  or  poor.  All  revenue  is  raised  by 
customs  duties  on  imports  and  exports. 


362 


LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    SIERRi    LEONE. 


Women  and  children  are  employed  largely  in  trading  on  their  own 
acconnt,  aud  few  if  any  are  hired  at  employment  for  wages. 
No  means  provided  in  case  of  fire. 

Good  hospitals  for  the  sick,  and  since  the  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  of 
this  Mav  and  Jnne,  sanitarv  measures  are  enforced  rigidly. 

JUDSON  A.  LEWIS, 

CohskL 
United  States  Consulate, 

Sierra  Leone,  November  10,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  ireck  offortij-eight  Itours  hi  Sierra  Leone. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers 

.$2  88 

1  44 

2  88 

1  44 

2  88 
2  88 
2  52 

2  16 

2  88 

$5  04 

1  80 
5  04 

5'64 

3  60 
5  04 

2  88 

4  32 

OTHER  TRADES — continued. 

*fO  72 

3  24 
2  88 
2  16 
(t) 

1  44 

4  32 

2  16 
2  40 
2  88 
2  16 
2  16 

"$1  00 

5  04 

3  60 

(t) 

Slaters  

Laborers,  porters,  ifcc 

Millwrights 

Printers ..   .. 

Teachers,  public  schools 

Sail-makers 

1  80 

Carpenters 

OTHER  TRADES. 

Bakers 

10  80 
4  32 
9  60 
4  32 
2  88 

Tailors 

4  32 

■  Per  biillock. 


f  Job  working  :  Gold,  50  per  cent. ;  silver,  100  per  cent. 


VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 

Wages  jmid  jjer  week  of  fo7-ty-eiijhf  hour-si))  shi2)-yards  in  Sierra  Leave. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Boat  building  or  repairing  wooden  ships . 


$3  04 


' $10  80 


*  The  highest  price  is  that  paid  to  the  boss  workmen  ;  all  others  receive  the  low  price  named. 

VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  ioseainen  (officers and  men) — distinguishing  betrveen  ocean,  coast,  and 
river  navigation,  and  betiveen  sail  and  steam — i)i  Sier)-a  Leo)ie. 


Occupations. 


Masters  of  small  steamers  plying  about  the  coast  and  up  the  rivers  (white) . 

MiUes  for  same  (black) 

Stokers  (black) 

Engineers  (black) 

Sailors 

Sailors  and  small  sailing  crafts 


Lowest.    Highest. 


$50  00 
7  20 

4  80 
10  00 

5  00 
5  00 


$100  00 
15  00 
7  20 
18  00 
12  00 
10  00 


LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    SIERRA    LEONE. 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 


363 


Tf'aflcs  paid  per  week  of  fort!i-d(jht  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  wales,  in  Sierra 

Leone. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$5  00 
5  00 

$25  00 

12  00 

Note. — He-id  bookkeepers  and  confidential  clerks — European — get  as  high  as  $3,000  per  year  in  some 
of  the  large  European  houses. 

X.  Household  waoes  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month  unth  board  to  houseliold  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  Sierra  Leone. 


Occupation.s. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$4  80 
2  40 

$16  80 
7  20 

$7  20 

4  80 

Note. — Nearly  aU  cooking  is  done  by  males. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid 2>er  dag,  to  at/ricuynral  laborers  and  household  {counlrg)  servants  in  Sierra  Leone 

and  rice. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$0  48 
24 

$1  00 
36 

$0  72 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fortg-cight  hours  to  the  corporation  cmplog^s  in  the  citg  of  Sierra 

Leone. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.  Average. 


Superintendent  of  roads  and  buildings 
Artisans  in  wood,  iron,  and  stone 


$2  16 


I       $14  00 

$5  76  3  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  one  hundred  and  ninrtg-two  hours  to  eniploges  in  Government  de- 
2)artnients  and  offices,  exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers  in  Sierra  Leone. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$15  00 
8  00 

$18  00 
40  09 

$25  00 

Clerks             .  .               

30  OU 

364  LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    MADEIRA. 

XIV.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wages  paid  by  the  week  of  forty-eight  liours  to  the  trades  and  laborers  i)i  Government  em^jJoy 

in  Sierra  Leone. 


Occupations. 


Painters. . . 
Carpenters 
Masons 


Lowest.    Highest. 


$2  88  I        $5  76 
2  88  I  5  04 

2  88  5  04 


Occupations. 


Iron  workers . 
Coopers 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


$5  76 
5  04 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  forty-eight  hours  to  printers  {compositors, 
pressmen,  proof-readers,  4'C-)  in  Sierra  Leone. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

$2  88 

iftS  04 

$1  44 
2  88 

$2  16 

1  44            "4  8.5 

Proof-readers 

5  04 

MADEIRA. 


EFFORT  BY  VICE-CONSUL  HUTCHISON. 

The  following-  brief  notes  on  this  subject  are  respectfiillj'  submitted, 
in  compliance  with  the  instructions  of  July  15  last.  The  field  is  so  lim- 
ited and  the  remuneration  of  labor  so  uniform  that  there  are  no  mate- 
rials for  a  report  under  all  the  heads  stated  in  the  circular. 

The  cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  is  small,  their  food  consist- 
ing chiefly  of  Indian  corn,  price  2  J  cents  per  pound,  and  sweet  potatoes, 
price  1  to  1^  cents  per  pound,  and  occasionally  bread  and  fish.  Their 
clothing  consists  of  coarse  cotton  or  linen  material,  the  climate  enabling 
them  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year  to  work  in  shirt  and  trousers  only. 
In  some  cases  the  laborers  have  houses  of  their  own,  rudelj  constructed 
of  rough  stone,  and  thatched,  the  floor  being  of  earth  or  paved  with 
round  stones  from  the  beach.  Those  who  pay  rent  usually  pay  from  $15 
to  $18  per  annum. 

Their  habits  are  generally  good,  the  laborers  being  temperate  and 
steady.  They  are  disposed  to  be  saving,  but  with  their  wages  that  is 
impossible. 

Good  feeling  prevails  between  emj)loyer  and  employed. 

There  is  no  organization  of  labor  nor  of  capital,  nor  are  there  any 
strikes. 

The  working  people  can  buy  where  they  choose.  They  are  paid 
weekly,  in  the  current  coin  of  the  country. 

There  is  one  co  operative  society  in  Funchal,  but  it  is  not  prosperous. 

The  general  condition  of  the  working  class  is  not  good,  and  the  only 
chance  of  improving  their  condition  is  by  emigration.  In  sickness  they 
usually  go  to  the  public  hospital  in  Funchal. 

Workingmen  have  the  right  of  voting  in  the  election  of  deputies  for 
the  Cortes,  or  Portuguese  Parliament,  and  they  pay  a  very  small  tax  on 
their  industrial  income,  varying  from  20  to  50  cents  per  annum. 

The  causes  of  emigration  are  low  wages,  and  they  eagerly  emigrate 
to  whatever  country  requires  their  services.    Latterly,  agricultural  la- 


LABOR    IN    AFRICA:    MADEIRA. 


365 


borers  have  been  emigrating  iu  large  numbers  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 
and  emigration  to  that  country  is  now  actively  going  on. 

FEMALE   LABOR. 

The  average  wages  earned  by  female  adults  iu  agricultural  labor  is  20 
cents  a  day.  The  hours  of  labor  average  7  to  11  hours  daily,  accord- 
ing to  the  season  of  the  year.  There  are  no  means  provided  for  their 
improvement.  The  employers  make  no  i^rovision  for  the  sick  and  dis- 
abled. 

The  state  of  education  is  very  low,  very  few  of  either  sex  being  able 
to  read. 
Lists  of  wages  of  the  principal  occupations  accompauy  this  report. 

J.  HUTCHISON, 

Vice-Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Funchal,  May  26, 1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  9  hours. 


Hod-carriers . . . 
Masons 

Tenders  . . . 
Plasterers , 

Tenders . . . 
Roofers 

Tenders  . . . 
Plumbers 

Assistants . 
Carpen  ters 


Bakers 

Blackamiths  ... 

Bookbinders 

Brasstbunders  . . 
Cabinet-makers 
Confectioners  . . 
Cigar-makers. .. 
Coopers 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


ISUILDIN'G   TUADES. 


Highest. 


Average. 


OTHEli   TUADES. 


10  45 


Gardeners 

HattfrS 

Laborers,  porters,  &c 

Printers 

Stevedores 

TaUors    

Tinsmiths , 


$0  37 
75 
37 
75 
37 
75 
37 
1  00 
40 
75 


55 

65 
55 
65 
65 
55 
65 
1  00 
65 
85 
37 
90 
65 
65 
40 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  motith  in  .stores,  wholesale  or  retail.  I»  males. 


Occupations. 


Salesmen   or  clerks. 


Average 
■wages. 


$15  00 


No  females  emidoyed  in  the  above-named  capacities. 


366  LABOR    m    AFRICA:    MADEIRA. 

X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  month,  icith  board,  to  household  servants  {towns  and  cities). 


Occupations. 


Cooks  (men)... 

Waiters 

Chambermaids . 


Average 


$8  00 

10  00 

5  00 


Occupations. 


Cooks  (women) . 

Grooms 

Boys 


Average 


$6  00 
5  OO 
3  00 


XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  jtaid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants. 


Occupations. 


Laborers 

Servants  (female) . 


per  day.. 

.per  month.. 


Average 
wages. 


*.$0  37 
t2  00' 


'  Without  food. 


t  With  food. 


AUSTRALASIA. 


TICTOBIA. 

EEPORT  BT  COtfSULGEXEJiAL  SPEXCEB,  OF  MELBOURNE. 
MALE  LABOR. 

Doubtless  one  of  the  most  perplexing  of  modera  social  problems  is- 
the  peaceable  readjustment  of  the  unfriendly  relations  which  at  present 
exist  between  capital  and  labor.  It  is  exceedingly  unfortunate  for  both 
that  they  sl>oukl  assume  an  attitude  of  antagonism  to  each  other,  for 
their  interests  are  identical.  Capital  and  labor,  in  fact,  are  but  differ- 
ent forms  of  the  same  thing.  Labor  is  uudeveloped  capital,  and  capital 
is  crystallized  labor.  According  to  the  opinion  of  not  a  few  of  the  lead- 
ing thinkers  of  the  day,  co-operation  is  the  only  practicable  solution  of 
this  great  problem  ;  co-operation  instead  of  competition.  Competition 
makes  all  men  Ishmaelites — every  man's  hand  against  that  of  his  fellow. 
Co-operation  would  apply  the  golden  rule  to  business  affairs,  and  make 
of  all  mankind  a  common  brotherhood. 

That  the  relations  of  employers  and  employed  are  everywhere  strained 
and  unsatisfactory  will  hardly  be  denied.  Labor  contends  that  it  does 
not  receive  its  legitimate  share  of  the  profits  arising  from  its  union  with 
capital.  It  utters  its  protests  in  the  form  of  strikes,  but  hitherto  with 
only  partial  success.  Having  thus  signally  failed  to  obtain  a  redress  of 
its  grievances,  it  has  learned  the  value  of  combination  and  is  becoming- 
aggressive  ami  defiant.  Happy  will  it  be  for  capital  if  it  takes  timely 
warning  and  averts  the  threatened  conflict.  First  there  comes  the  mut- 
tering of  the  distant  thunder;  after  that  the  thunderbolt. 

RATES   OF  WAGES. 

Victoria  has  been  styled  the  "workingman's  paradise,"  and  not  with- 
out reason,  if  it  is  compared  in  this  respect  either  with  Great  Britain  or 
any  other  country  in  Euro[)e.  Much  interesting  information  relating 
to  the  general  condition  of  the  laboring  and  artisan  classes  in  the  colony 
has  been  elicited  by  the  royal  commission  on  the  tariff  and  the  em- 
ployes in  shoi)S  commission,  which  goes  to  show  that  the  hours  of  labor 
are  shorter  and  the  rates  of  remuneration,  on  the  average,  higher  in 
Victoria  than  they  are  in  England  or  any  other  country  of  the  Old 
World.  ^Vith  a  ijropitious  climate  and  a  fruitful  soil,  with  eight  hours 
as  the  recognized  working  day,  and  with  high  wages  for  almost  everj' 
descri])tiou  of  labor,  there  is  probably  no  country  in  the  world,  if  we  ex- 
cept the  United  States,  tliat  offers  greater  attractions  to  the  working- 
man  than  Victoria. 

mi 


368  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

COST    OF   LIVING. 

According  to  the  eviclonce  taken  before  tlie  royal  commission,  the  cost 
of  living  to  the  laboring  classes  is,  on  the  whole,  less  in  Victoria  than 
it  was  ten  years  ago.  During  the  past  six  months,  however,  there  has 
been  a  sensible  increase  in  the  prices  of  some  of  the  necessaries  of  life, 
owing  to  the  severe  and  long-continued  drought  and  the  large  export  of 
frozen  meat  to  the  old  country.  House  rent  is  higher  than  in  England. 
The  rent  of  cottages  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city  suitable  for  clerks  and 
shopmen  range  from  $250  to  $500  i)er  annum,  and  those  for  artisans 
and  laborers  from  $2  to  $4  per  week.  As  for  clothing,  it  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  estimate,  even  approximately,  the  expense  for  any  particular 
class,  involving,  as  it  does,  a  question  of  taste  as  well  as  the  purchas- 
ing ability  of  the  consumer. 

WAOES   PAST   AND    PRESENT. 

With  a  few  exceptions  the  present  rate  of  wages  and  the  conditions 
of  labor  are  about  the  same  as  those  which  prevailed  in  1878.  There 
has  been  a  sensible  reduction  in  the  wages  paid  to  journeymen  shoe- 
makers and  tailors,  owing  in  part  to  the  keen  competition,  and  in  part 
to  the  introduction  of  machines  and  female  labor.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  has  been  a  slight  advance  in  the  wages  paid  to  agricultural  labor- 
ers and  domestic  servants. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

That  habits  of  economy  and  thrift  prevail  to  a  great  extent  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  in  a  population  of  900,000  persons,  of  whom  330.000 
are  under  fifteen  years  of  age,  there  are  122,584  who  are  depositors  in 
savings-banks,  with  an  aggregate  amount  of  $15,600,000  standing  to 
their  credit.  The  various  friendly  societies  have  an  income,  in  round 
numbers,  of  $1,000,000,  and  $2,000,000  invested ;  the  building  societies 
have  an  income  of  $7,000,000,  beside  $5,000,000  on  deposit.  Of  the 
$83,000,000  of  deposits  bearing  interest  in  the  various  banks  of  the 
colony,  a  certain  proportion — although  there  are  no  means  of  ascertain- 
ing the  exact  amount — is  deposited  by  the  working  classes. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  is  a  considerable  amount  of  poverty,  occa- 
sioned for  the  most  part  by  intemperance  or  other  misconduct.  The 
fact  that  a  community  of  less  than  a  million  of  inhabitants  expends  not 
less  than  $15,000,000  per  annum  upou  intoxicating  li<[uors  is  quite  suf- 
ficient to  explain  why  a  certain  amount  of  destitution  and  misery  exists. 

FEELINO  BETWEEN  EMPLOYER  AND  EMPLOYE. 

The  feeling  which  prevails  between  emploj^ers  and  employes  in  the 
colony  of  Victoria  is,  generally  speaking,  of  a  friendly  character.  Owing 
to  the  fact  that  the  legislature  has  not,  for  a  considerable  number  of 
years  past,  appropriated  any  portion  of  the  public  revenue  for  immigra- 
tion purposes,  as  well  as  to  the  great  distance  cff  Australia  from  Europe, 
whicli  operates  as  a  bar  to  voluntary  emigration  from  the  Old  World,  the 
increase  of  poj)ulation  from  without,  is  comparatively  insignificant. 
Consequently  the  labor  market  is  rarely  or  never  overstocked;  wages 
are  high,  and  skilled  workmen  of  every  description  are  able  to  dictate 
their  own  terms.  Hence  it  is  to  the  interest  of  employers  to  cultivate 
friendly  relations  with  their  workmen  ;  for  the  independent  i^osition  of 


LABOR    IN   AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  369 

the  latter  aucl  the  trades  eoiiibinatioiis  which  exist  among  them  enable 
them  to  resist  and  resent  any  harsh  or  arbitrary  act  of  authority  on  the 
part  of  tlie  former,  while  it  is  only  due  to  these  to  state  that  their  con- 
duct, as  a  general  rule,  is  courteous  and  considerate  towards  the  wage- 
earning  classes. 

Eight  hours,  as  a  rule,  constitute  a  day's  labor,  the  remuneration  of 
which  is  so  liberal  that  a  frugal,  sober,  and  enterprising  operative  will 
often  succeed,  after  a  few  years  of  patient  and  i^ersevering  toil,  in  rais- 
ing himself  to  the  positiou  of  a  foreman,  overseer,  contractor,  or  em- 
ployer of  labor  himself.  As  such  he  feels  a  certain  amount  of  sympathy 
for  those  out  of  whose  ranks  he  has  raised  himself,  and  he  shapes  his 
actions  towards  them  accordingly.  In  most  large  establishments  it  is 
customary  for  principals  to  give  an  annual  picnic,  to  which  the  whole  of 
the  men,  together  with  their  wives  and  families,  are  invited  ;  the  entire 
expense  being  defrayed  by  the  firm.  This  has  the  effect  of  cementing 
the  good  feeling  which  exists  between  employers  and  employed,  and,  as 
a  natural  consequence,  the  peace  and  i)rosperity  of  the  community  are 
promoted  by  these  harmonious  relations. 

ORGANIZED   CONDITION   OF  LABOR. 

Not  only  have  all  the  branches  of  handicraft  their  trades  unions,  but 
the  day  laborers  also  have  a  similar  organization.  Each  has  its  com- 
mittee of  management ;  and  a  trades  hall,  erected  on  a  block  of  land 
granted  for  that  purpose  by  the  government,  furnishes  them  with  a 
place  of  rendezvous.  Meetings  are  held  in  it  once  a  fortnight,  or  ofteuer, 
as  may  be  required  by  the  committee  of  each  trade.  There  are  some- 
thing like  twenty  different  industries  thus  represented.  Questions  of 
policy  involving  trade  usages  or  matters  in  dispute  between  emi)loyers 
and  employed  are  discussed  at  such  })erii)dical  meetings  with  lairness, 
intelligence,  and  impartiality  ;  and  each  of  these  bodies  may  be  regarded 
as  a  separate  committee  of  what  constitutes  in  the  aggregate  a  congress 
or  parliament  of  labor. 

The  etfect  of  such  organizations  is  to  increase  the  power  and  also  the 
self-respect  of  their  individual  members.  Bound  together  by  a  commu- 
nity of  sentiment  and  interest,  and  ready  to  sui)port  each  other  in  case 
of  emergency,  the  United  Trades  are  an  important  factor  in  political  and 
social  dynamics.  They  succeeded  some  years  ago,  by  a  combined  effort, 
in  establishing  the  principle  of  eight  hours  labor,  eight  hours  rest,  and 
eight  hours  refreshment  and  recreation;  and  the  anniversary  of  its  in- 
stitution is  observed  as  a  public  holiday  by  the  wage-earning  classes  in 
Melbourne,  when  all  the  trades  march  in  procession  through  the  streets, 
with  their  respective  banners  and  the  emblems  of  their  daily  occupa- 
tions. 

There  are  no  counter-organizations  of  capitalists.  The  chamber  of 
uumufacturers  occupies  itself  with  the  general  concerns  of  trade  and 
manufactures.  Some  minor  associations  have  been  formed  by  the  pro- 
ducers of,  or  dealers  in,  i)arti(!ular  articles,  chiedy  with  the  object  of 
procuring  steadiness  of  price,  discountenancing  illegitimate  competition 
and  dishonest  trading,  as  well  as  of  protecting  themselves  against  fraud 
and  embezzlement.  l>ut  otherwise,  capital  has  not  resorted  to  any 
unions,  either  for  aggressive  or  defensive  purposes. 

STRIKES   AND   COURTS   OF   ARBITRATION. 

As  each  of  the  trades  has  been  organized  in  the  manner  previously 
described,  and  has  a  standing  committee  to  watch  over  its  interests, 
92  A— 2  LAB 24 


370  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

strikes  are  not  often  liad  recourse  to  as  a  means  of  adjusting  the  current 
rate  of  wages,  and  determining  the  market  value  of  skilled  or  of  un- 
skilled labor.  More  often  than  otherwise  any  reasonable  demand  for 
increased  remuneration  is  acceded  to  by  employers  in  preference  to  en- 
countering the  loss,  annoyance,  and  anxiety  which  would  be  entailed  by 
the  suspension  of  industrial  operations  in  consequence  of  a  lock-out. 

On  the  other  hand,  occasions  have  arisen  in  which  advantage  has 
been  taken  by  employes  of  their  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  a  certain 
public  or  private  contract  must  be  completed  within  a  given  tiuie  and 
under  a  heavy  penalty,  to  exact  an  advance  in  wages,  without  due  jus- 
tification, and  not  iinfrequently  to  the  serious  detriment  or  actual  loss 
of  the  contractor.  The  knowledge  that  such  strikes  are  possible,  and 
even  probable,  is  of  course  a  disturbing  element  in  all  calculations  af- 
fecting important  works,  involving  a  considerable  outlay  of  capital  and 
extending  over  a  lengthened  period  of  time.  There  can  be  very  little 
doubt  but  that  great  public  undertakings  are  rendered  much  more 
€Ostly  to  the  community  than  they  otherwise  would  be  by  contractors 
feeling  themselves  compelled  to  guard  against  a  contingency  of  this 
kind  in  j^reparing  their  schedules  of  prices. 

Among  employers  of  labor,  and  among  the  more  intelligent  of  the 
skilled  artisans,  there  is  a  general  desire  for  councils  of  conciliation 
such  as  exist  upon  the  continent  of  Europe,  to  be  composed  of  emi^loy- 
ers  and  employes  in  equal  numbers,  with  a  president  unconnected  with 
either  class  ;  and  it  is  understood  that  a  measure  to  give  legal  efiect  to 
this  desire  and  legal  authority  to  its  decisions  will  shortly  be  submitted 
to  the  parliament  of  Victoria,  with  the  strong  i)robability  that  it  will 
be  enrolled  upon  the  statute-book. 

In  the  tinal  report  of  the  royal  commission  on  emjjloyes  in  shops  the 
commissioners  say : 

In  the  opinion  of  your  couimiissioners  the  most  effective  niofle  of  bringing  about  in- 
dustrial c'o-operalion  and  mutual  sympathy  between  employers  and  employed,  and 
thus  obviating  labor  conflicts  in  the  future,  is  by  the  establishment  of  courts  of  con- 
ciliation in  Victoria  whose  procedure  and  awards  shall  have  the  sanction  and  author- 
ity of  law. 

Your  commissioners  therefore  recommend  that,  during  the  ensuing  session  of  Par- 
liament, the  Government  introduce  anieasure  having  for  its  object  the  establishment 
iind  maintenance  of  courts  of  conciliation  in  Victoria. 

Of  the  proposed  act,  the  following  are  the  principal  provisions : 

I.  A  central  council  to  be  established  in  Melbourne  which  shall  be  permanent. 

II.  The  central  council  to  consist  of  fourteen  members,  seven  of  whom  shall  repre- 
sent employers  and  seven  employes. 

III.  Tiie  central  council  to  be  elective. 

IV.  The  qualitication  of  those  entitled  to  vote  for  representatives  on  the  central 
council  to  consist  of  electors  being  on  the  one  part  employers  and  on  the  other  part  em- 
ployes, none  of  whom  shall  be  less  than  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

V.  Qualified  electors  to  1)e  eligible  for  membership  of  the  central  council  and  local 
courts  of  conciliation. 

VI.  The  method  of  recording  the  votes  of  electors  to  be  determined  by  the  various 
trade  organizations.  Failing  the  existence  of  such  in  any  particular  locality  at  the 
time,  then  through  some  kindred  association  which  may  accepi  the  responsibility  of 
collecting  and  recording  such  votes. 

VII.  Candidates  for  the  central  council  to  be  nominated  fourteen  days  at  least  prior 
to  the  day  of  election. 

VIII.  'I'he  governnu'iit  to  be  requested  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the 
election  of  members  of  tlie  first  central  council. 

IX.  The  central  council  to  be  a  court  of  appeal  from  local  courts  of  conciliation. 

X.  The  position  of  members  of  the  central  council  and  of  hical  courts  to  be  honorary. 

XI.  Vacancies  occurring  in  the  centra!  council  through  disiiualiflcation  to  be  filled 
up  by  the  remaining  members  n^presenting  the  interest  for  which  the  person  disqual- 
ified had  been  elected. 


LADOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  371 

XII.  The  question  of  disquiilification  to  lie  (lecided  by  n  majority  of  those  members 
of  the  couucil  identified  with  tlie  interest  which  the  peisou  aifected  had  been  elected 
to  represent. 

XIII.  Two  members  of  the  central  council  to  retire  annually,  one  being  a  represen- 
tative of  em)iloyers  and  the  other  of  cniiiloy<?s.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  after  elec- 
tion the  representative  on  each  side  who  obtained  the  smallest  number  of  votes  .shall 
retire,  when  two  others  sliall  be  elected  to  till  their  places,  and  so  on  in  rotation.  Re- 
tiring members  to  be  eligible  for  re-election. 

XIV.  Local  courts  of  conciliation  may  be  appointed  in  any  municipality  or  district 
in  the  colony. 

XV.  Local  courts  to  be  temporary  and  their  duties  specific,  except  in  cases 'where  it 
may  be  considered  desirable  by  the  trade  organization  in  any  district  to  elect  a  local 
<'ourt  to  represent  them  for  a  period  not  exceeding  tAvelve  months;  the  members  of 
6uch  conrr  to  consist  of  an  equal  number  of  employers  and  cmi)loy<5s. 

XVI.  The  mayor  of  any  city,  town,  or  borough,  and  the  president  of  any  shire,  to 
receive  applications  for  the  establishment  of  a  local  court,  on  receipt  of  which  he 
shall  within  twenty-four  hours  make  the  necessary  arrangement  for  the  election  of 
the  nu;mbers  of  such  court,  and  shall  act  as  returning  officer  of  the  same,  or  appoint 
a  deputy  to  act  on  his  behalf. 

XVII.  There  shall  be  a  president  and  vice  president  of  the  central  council,  elected 
by  the  members  from  each  side  respectively. 

XVIII.  The  president,  vice  president,  or  whoever  in  the  absence  of  those  shall  pre- 
side during  the  adjudication  of  any  cause,  shall  not  be  entitled  to  a  casting  vote. 

XIX.  Rules  XVII  and  XVIII  ♦o  apply  to  local  courts. 

XX.  When  the  necessary  authority  has  been  obtained  by  the  jjarties  interested  for 
the  establisinuent  of  a  local  court,  they  shall  inoceed  to  the  election  of  representa- 
tives under  the  act. 

XXI  Expenses  to  bo  limited  to  the  actual  outlay  incurred  in  hearing  the  dispute, 
for  which  the  plaintiff  may  be  required  to  give  security  in  the  first  instance. 

XXII.  Any  local  court  failing  to  arrive  at  an  amicable  settlement  regarding  the 
matter  in  dispute,  an  appeal  may  be  made  to  the  central  council. 

XXIII.  A  permanent  secretary  to  the  central  council,  to  be  apiiointed  by  the  gov- 
ernment. 

XXIV.  The  central  council  to  frame  its  own  rules  and  regulations  and  mode  of  pro- 
cedure under  the  act. 

XXV.  The  president,  vice  president,  and  members  of  the  central  council,  to  be  ex 
officio  magistrates  of  the  central  bailiwick. 

XXVI.  Decrees  made  by  the  central  council  to  be  enforced  under  provisions  to  be 
embodied  in  the  act. 

XXVII.  President  of  central  council  to  have  power  to  iuflict  a  penalty — either  a 
fine  not  exceeding  £ or  a  term  of  imprisonment  not  exceeding  —  days — for  con- 
tempt of  court. 

Employes  are  usually  paid  weekly  in  English  sterling'.  They  are 
perfectly  free  to  make  their  purchases,  of  whatever  kind,  wherever 
they  choose. 

CO-OPERATIVE   SOCIETIES. 

"Co-operation."  says  the  Earl  of  Roseberry,  "is the  obvious  and  only 
remedy  for  all  troubles  arising  out  of  the  contlict  between  capital  and 
labor."  And  yet,  although  the  conditions  here  are  more  favorable  than 
in  Eiighmd,  cooperation  among  the  wage-earning  classes  of  Victoria 
has  hitherto  met  with  only  inditferent  success.  One  of  the  largest  iron 
foundries  in  the  colony  has  been  conducted  upon  this  principle  for  a 
l)eriod  of  something  liketvA'enty  years,  but,  as  I  understand, it  has  never 
paid  a  dividend.  Whether  the  members  of  the  copartnery  have  been 
drawing  the  same  wages  as  they  would  have  done  had  they  been  work- 
ing for  private  employers,  I  have  no  means  of  ascertaining.  Neither 
has  cooperation  for  distributive  purposes  been  any  more  successful 
among  the  operative  classes.  Ex[)eriments  have  been  made,  but  liith- 
erto  they  have  almost  invariably  ended  in  failure.  Tliere  are  at  the 
present  time  two  large  associations  of  this  kind  in  Melbourne,  but  they 
have  been  founded  and  carried  on  by  the  middle  and  upper  classes  of 
society  almost  exclusively.  One  of  them,  the  mutual  store,  in  the  city 
of  Melbourne,  has  paid  8  per    cent,   per    annum,  besides  occasional 


372  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

bonuses,  for  many  years  i)ast.  The  other,  the  Equitable  Co-operative 
Society,  has  been  established  too  recently  to  justify  me  in  speaking 
with  confidence  of  its  position  and  prospects.  The  secretary  of  this  so- 
ciety, however,  in  his  paper  on  co-operation,  read  recently  before  the 
Intercolonial  Trades  Union  Congress,  says: 

Tliis  society  has  only  beeu  in  business  two  months,  yet  it  employs  nearly  two  hun- 
dred work-people,  males  and  females,  of  whom  about  fiity  are  employed  as  tailors, 
upholsterers,  mantle-makers  and  milliners,  and  the  remainder  as  distriLutors.  Other 
trades  will  quickly  follow.  It  has  a  buyer  located  in  London,  who  buys  direct  from 
manufacturers;  a  banking  account  there  which  means  bringing  ca]iital  for  use  here, 
and  which  the  colonies  so  much  need,  and  without  which  progress  is  impossible.  This 
society  could  easily  establish  branches  all  over  Melbourne,  and  give  the  management 
to  local  committees,  consisting  of  the  trusted  members  of  the  working  class,  supple- 
mented by  one  or  more  of  its  own  committee.  This  society  has  an  influential  share- 
holding body,  and  is  adding  about  twenty-five  members  per  week.  It  is  established 
upon  the  most  democratic  principles,  for  only  one  vote  is  allowed  Ibreachhead,  what- 
ever capital  its  owner  may  have  invested,  and  all  the  profits  are  divided  among  the 
purchasers  in  proportion  to  their  individual  support,  after  paying  capital  not  more 
than  a  fair  rate  of  dividend,  viz,  8  per  cent,  per  annum.  All  the  profits  of  the  work- 
ing-class societies  at  home  are  divided  in  this  manner,  with  the  exceptiou  that  8  per 
cent,  is  the  rule  as  regards  interest. 

There  is  one  form  of  co-operation  in  Victoria,  however,  which  is  very 
popular  and  highly  beneficial.  I  refer  to  that  of  building  societies;  by 
means  of  which,  workingmen,  small  shopkeepers,  mercantile  clerks, 
and  others,  are  enabled  to  acquire  houses  of  their  own  by  means  of  a 
small  monthly  subsciiption  spread  over  a  period  of  time  ranging  from 
four  to  ten  years.  Some  millions  of  pounds  sterling  have  been  accumu- 
lated and  invested  in  this  way  during  the  last  thirty  years  with  this  re- 
sult, that  in  the  suburbs  of  Melbourne  and  in  the  country  districts  the 
great  bulk  of  the  thrifty  and  industrial  population  are  their  own  land- 
lords. There  are  about  fifty  building  societies  in  Victoria  which  send 
in  their  returns  to  the  Government  statistician.  These  have  an  income 
of  $7,500,000  and  have  made  advances,  secured  on  real  property,  to  the 
extent  of  $10,000,000,  exclusive  of  loans  granted  in  previous  years  and 
subsequentty  redeemed. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

Probably  there  is  no  country  in  the  world  in  which  the  condition  of 
the  working  man  is  more  favorable  than  it  is  in  the  colony  of  Victoria. 
The  climate  is  such  that  those  who  pursue  out  of-door  occupations  do 
not  i)robably,  on  an  average,  lose  more  than  ten  days  in  tlie  year,  and 
then  it  is  owing  to  heavy  rains.  In  the  winter  months  the  thermometer 
rarely  falls  below  32°  Fahrenheit  •,  when  it  docs  it  is  after  night-fall,  and 
it  will  i)robably  register  70°  in  the  sun  at  noon.  The  heat  of  the  sum- 
mer months  is  a  dry  and  stimulating,  and  not  an  enervating  and  op- 
pressive heat.  The  eight-hour  system,  with  the  Saturday  half  holiday, 
is  the  prevalent  one.  For  eight  months  in  the  year  a  householder  re- 
quires no  fuel  except  to  cook  with,  and  his  outlay  for  clothing  is  of 
course  very  much  less  than  it  is  in  countries  subject  to  a  severer  cli- 
mate. 

Numbers  of  the  artisan  classes  occupy  neat  suburban  cottages,  con- 
taining from  four  to  six  rooms,  each  surrounded  by  a  small  garden  plat 
where  the  laboring  man  may  sit,  in  no  figurative  sense,  under  his  own 
vine  an<l  fig  tree. 

The  skilled  laborer  lives  generously,  and  has  a  substantial  meal,  with 
meat,  three  limes  a  day.  The  state  su])plie8  his  children  with  educa- 
tion gratuitously;  public  libraries  and  free  reading-rooms  furnish  him 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  373 

with  tlio  means  of  instruction  and  intellectual  improvement ;  public 
parks  are  ])rovide(l  for  liis  recreation,  while  a  laige  annual  exi)enditure 
by  the  lioverinnent  on  raihviiys  and  other  public  works  maintains  wa<?es 
at  an  unnaturally  high  level,  and  as  manhood  is  the  sole  qualificatiou 
for  the  sutirage,  and  he  belongs  to  a  class  whi(;h  has  a  numerical  ma- 
jority, he  and  his  fellow- workmen  are  masters  of  the  i)olitical  situation. 

A  skilled  artisan  earning  815  a  week  for  forty-eight  hours'  labor  can 
save  $10  a  week  out  of  it  without  denying  himself  any  of  the  necessa- 
ries of  life.  This  is  assuming  that  he  is  a  single  man.  And  it  may  be 
said  of  those  who  are  nuirrie(i  to  good  domestic  managers,  and  are  sober 
and  thrifty  themselves,  that  they  can  lay  uj)  at  least  $100  a  year.  All 
the  necessaries  of  life  are  comparativelv  cheap,  with  the  exception  of 
those  articles  of  wearing  ai)})arel,  furniture,  working  implements,  &c., 
the  cost  of  which  is  enhanced  by  i))otective  duties. 

On  the  whole,  the  nu^ral  and  ])hysical  condition  of  the  people  is  sound 
and  healthy.  In  a  bright  and  exhilarating  climate,  with  free  access  to 
libraries  and  museums,  and  with  a  great  fondness  for  i)ublic  holidays 
and  out-of  door  sports  and  enjoyments,  the  influences  sorroundiug  the 
poi)ulation  ot  A'ictoria  are  of  a  cheerful  and  beneficial  character. 

STATEMENTS   OF   WORKING   PEOPLE. 

The  Victorian  working  man  is  very  sensitive  to  whatever  maj'  appear 
to  him  as  an  intrusion  upon  his  domestic  i^rivacy,  and  is,  therefore,  in- 
disi)osed  to  communicate  any  detailed  information  relative  to  his  house- 
hold expenditure  unless  required  to  do  so  before  a  royal  commission. 
Consequently,  I  am  unable  to  comply  with  the  suggestions  of  the  De- 
partment in  this  particular,  but  in  lieu  thereof  I  herewith  transmit  the 
sworn  statements  of  lepresentative  tradesmen  made  before  the  royal 
commission  on  the  tariif,  which  1  trust  will  prove  equally  satisfactory 

a.   Statement  of  a  hootmali'rr.  • 

W1LI.IAM  Tkexowith,  bootm."\ker,  sworn  and  examined. 

Question.  What  vere  the  wages  in  1879,  and  what  are  they  now  ? — Answer.  It  is 
very  difficult,  of  course,  to  give  accurate  figures,  because  some  men  are  so  much  smarter 
than  others. 

Q.  Take  a  smart  man,  first  of  all,  to  compare  with  the  smart  man  you  sjjoke  of  who 
earned  high  wages  under  abnormal  circumstances? — A.  Some  men,  I  am  told,  now 
earn  as  much  as  four  pounds  a  week.  They  are  a  very  few  and  rare  exceptions,  but 
I  should  say  the  average  wages  for  a  fairly  competent  man — not  a  slow  man,  and  not 
a  very  quick  man — are  aV>out  fifty  shillings  a  week. 

Q.  How  many  pairs  of  boots  did  that  man  turn  out  for  his  thirty  shillings? — A. 
Twelve  jtairs  ot  women's  boots,  at  two  and  sixpence  a  pair. 

Q.  If  tiie  same  man  turned  out  the  same  twelve  pairs  of  women's  boots  now,  what 
would  his  pay  l)e  ? — A.  Twelve  i)airs  of  the  same  boots? 

Q.  Yes. — A.  Eighteen  shillings. 

Q.  Eighteen  shillings,  instead  of  thirty  shillings? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  You  are  an  operative,  and  si>euk  from  experience  and  for  those  whom  you  repre- 
sent. Do  you  find  the  cost  of  living  increased  since  the  year  1876? — A.  No  ;  I  think 
in  almost  every  ]iarti(ular  it  has  di  creased. 

Q.  You  show  us,  by  figures,  how  the  operative  bootmaker  in  18H7,  before  the  tariff 
w  as  introduced,  earned  al>out  £2  8.s.  a  week.  Yon  show  us  now  that  after  all  the 
competition  between  various  manufacturers  an  average  man  may  earn  bOs.  a  week  in 
his  factory.  Now,  is  his  50«.  a  week  worth  as  mueli  to  him  in  iiurchasing  power  as 
bOx.  was  in  previous  times? — A.  From  a  rough  calculation  my  experience  is  that  bOe. 
a  week  is  worth  nearly  as  much  as  three  pounds;  at  any  rate,  it  is  worth  much  more 
than  it  was  in  lt<()7. 

Q.  So  that  taking  that  into  account  as  well,  you  have  absolutely  got  an  increase  of 
wages? — A.  Yes;  I  can  give  an  illustration  of  what  I  mean  by  ])urchasing  power 
being  greater.  In  181)7  I  gave  £2  7«.  6d.  for  a  trousers  and  vest  in  Bourke  street,  and 
I  was  unfortunate  enough  to  fall  in  a  waterholo  with  them,  and  when  I  tried  to  get 


374  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

them  on  again  I  could  not  put  them  on  with  pleasure,  they  were  so  shrunk  up,  and 
now  I  can  get  a  very  good  trousers  and  vest  for  a  pound  less. 

Q.  Then  we  understand  you  that  considering  the  increase  of  value  and  the  purchas- 
ing power  of  your  wages  now  as  compared  with  1867,  you  are  twelve  shillings  a  week 
better  off  under  present  circumstances  than  yon  were  before? — A.  I  think  so. 

Q.  You  say  you  think  so;  I  would  like  it  definitely. — A.  I  have  not  gone  into  fig- 
ures, and  I  would  not  say  definitely  twelve  shillings,  but  I  am  sure  I  am  V)etteroff.  I 
oould  not  say  what  was  the  sum — it  might  be  more  or  less,  but  I  feel  sure  at  looking 
back  at  the  cost  of  everything  I  use,  then,  and  now,  that  I  must  be  better  olf  now 
than  then. 

Q.  Do  you  pay  more  for  rent  now  than  you  did  then;  that  is  a  large  item  in  an 
operative's  expenses  ? — A.  I  could  not  speak  upon  that,  because  at  tbat  time  I  was.not 
a  householder. 

Q.  You  only  speak  of  wearing  apparel  ? — A.  Wearing  apparel  and  things  I  use. 

Q.  They  are  cheaper  than  1  hey  were? — A.  Yes;  for  instance,  a  heel  shave  used  to  be 
four  and  sixpence  then,  and  uow  the  highest  price  is  three  and  sixpence. 

h.  Statement  of  an  engiveer. 

John  Reynolds,  engineer  (fitter),  sworn  and  examined. 
By  the  Hon.  Mr.  Lorimer  : 

Question.  What  is  the  rate  of  wages  of  men  in  your  occupation? — Answer.  From 
10s.  to  l'->.s.  a  flay,  some  V6s. 

Q.  What  were  you  getting  in  1870?  Were  you  here  then  ? — A.  I  was  here' then.  I 
know  that  when  I  came  out  first  I  went  to  Ballarat,  and  they  were  working  for  very 
small  wages  at  that  time,  I  believe. 

Q.  What  rate  did  you  get  at  Ballarat? — A.  I  got  10s.  when  I  lauded  first;  that  was 
only  a  week  or  two.  I  was  employed  at  Stawell  after  that,  but  I  had  to  work  ten 
hours  a  day  for  12.5.  a  day. 

Q.  You  got  as  much  at  that  time  as  you  do  uow  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Was  it  the  high  rate  of  wages  that  induced  you  to  come  out? — A.  Yes,  nn- 
doubtedly  ;  that  and  the  advice  of  my  friends. 

Q.  What  year  did  you  come  out  in  ? — A.  1870. 

By  the  Chairman  : 

Q.  What  wages  had  you  at  home  ? — A.  Twenty-nine  shillings  a  week. 

Q.  How  maTiy  hours  a  day  ? — A.  Ten. 

Q.  You  did  not  woik  sixty  hours  a  week,  didyou  ? — A.  Yes;  we  wrought  tenhours 
and  a  half  a  day  every  day,  so  as  to  get  away  on  Saturday  at  2  o'clock. 

Q.  You  work  forty-eight  hours  here  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  And  you  wrought  sixtj"  hours  at  home  for  29s.  a  week  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Could  you  live  any  cheaper  at  home,  taking  into  account  rent,  food,  and  cloth- 
ing?— A.  Yes,  rent,  of  course,  was  cheaper. 

Q.  Taking  everything  into  consideration,  could  you  live  cheaper? — A.  I  do  not 
know  that  I  could,  much. 

Q.  Better? — A.  No  better  than  you  can  here.  I  think  a  man  in  steady  employ- 
ment can  live  more  comfortably  here  than  at  home  ;  that  is  if  he  has  steady  employ- 
ment. 

Q.  Is  there  much  difterence  in  the  steadiness  of  emploj'ment  here  and  at  home  ? — 
A.  Yes  ;  a  great  deal. 

Q.  In  which  way  ? — A.  At  home  you  may  serve  your  time  in  a  shop,  and  be  in  it 
till  you  are  a  very  old  man.  There  is  one  case,  perhaps,  here  out  of  evt  ry  hundred 
where  that  is  the  case. 

Q.  Does  the  irregularity  of  employment  have  any  effect  upon  wages  here? — A.  I  do 
think  it  has,  because  in  <lull  times  the  wages  are  not  so  good.  The  men  cannot  com- 
mand as  high  a  rate  of  wages  as  when  there  is  plenty  of  employment  to  give  a  man 
1«.  a  day  extra. 

<!.  Statement  of  a  miner. 

William  John  Cook  sworn  and  examined. 

By  the  Chairman  : 
Question.  What  are  you? — Answer.  A.  miner. 
Q.  Are  you  a  working  miner  ? — A.  A  working  miner. 

Q.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  Miners'  Association? — A.  I  am  not  just  now. 
Q.  Have  you  ever  been  a  menil)er? — A.  I  was  j>reviously. 

Q.  What,  mine  have  you  been  working  in? — A.  In  the  Ellesmere  for  about  two  years. 
Q.  Are  you  a  shareholder  ? — A.  No,  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  am  not. 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  375 

Q.  How  loiifjc  have  you  been  a  working  miner? — A.  Since  the  year  1853. 

y.  is  the  rate  of  -vvafies  in  your  calling  low  er  now  than  it  was  in  1853  ?  — A.  Yes  ;  it 
is  reflucefl  considerably  since  the  year  1S53.  About  1853  and  1854  wages  were  about 
£5  a  week  and  over. 

Q.  Within  the  last  ten  years — 1853  was  an  exceptional  period? — A.  About  the  last 
ten  years  it  has  been  about  the  same  in  Bendigo. 

Q.   Has  the  cost  of  living  been  reduced  during  that  time? — A.  I  do  not  think  so. 

Q.  Do  you  pay  as  much  lor  rent  now  as  you  did  ten  years  ago? — A.  About  that  time 
I  think  the  rent  about  Sandhurst  has  been  about  the  same  as  it  was;  perhaps  not 
quite  so  much  now  as  it  was  ten  years  ago,  but  I  do  not  know  exactly. 

Q.  Is  clothing  as  expensive  as  it  was  ten  years  ago  ? — A.  No  ;  I  do  not  think  so. 

Q.  It  is  lower  than  it  was  ten  years  ago? — A.  No,  I  think  not.  I  think  miners' 
clothing  is  about  the  same  as  ten  years  ago  ;  I  do  not  tiud  very  much  ditference  in  it. 

Q.  Do  you  give  as  much  for  a  pair  of  mole  trousers  now  as  you  did  then? — A.  I 
think  I  gave  about  the  same  price;  there  may  Gri.  difference,  and  that  is,  I  think, 
about  the  only  difference. 

Q.  Do  you  mean  (id.  higher  or  lower  ? — A.  I  fancy  the  moles  are  (id.  dearer  than 
they  were  ten  years  ago. 

Q.  How  about  boots  ? — A.  Boots  are  about  the  same  ;  I  do  not  think  there  is  very 
much  difference  in  a  pair  of  boots  between  now  and  ten  years  ago,  as  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned. 

d.  Statement  of  a  jeweler. 

Charles  Thompson,  journeyman  jeweler,  sworn  and  examined. 

Question.  Is  the  position  of  a  working  jeweler  in  this  colony  as  good  as  in  Et  g- 
land  ? — Answer.  Yes  ;  I  think,  perha^js,  if  there  is  any  difference  it  is  in  favor  of  the 
colonial  workman. 

Q.  Are  von  r  hours  of  labor  longer  or  shorter? — A.  Shorter;  that  is  the  advantage  ; 
we  have  eight  hours  here,  and  we  have  to  work  perhaps  nine  and  in  some  instances 
nine  hours  atul  a  half  at  home. 

Q.  For  about  the  same  rate  of  wages? — A.  No  ;  perhaps  wages  are  a  little  better 
here,  with  eight  hours  a  day  labor. 

Q.  Ijcss  hours  of  labor  and  a  little  better  wages.  Is  the  rate  of  living  higher  here 
or  at  home  ? — A.  Yes  ;  it  is  higher,  slightly  ;  still  the  rate  of  wages  is  in  lavor  of  the 
colonial  workman. 

Q.  When  you  say  the  rate  of  living  is  higher,  as  you  have  not  been  very  long  iu  the 
colony,  will  you  explain  to  the  commission  on  what  lines  it  is  higher — in  what  depart- 
ment of  exi)endit  ire  is  it  higher  here  than  at  home  f — A.  Clothing  and  house  rent ; 
clothing  is  75  per  cent,  higher  here  than  at  home. 

Q.  Is  that  your  experience  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Do  you  mean  to  tell  the  commission  that  you  could  walk  into  a  shop  in  a  coun- 
try town  in  England,  or  one  of  the  manufacturing  towns — ? — A.  Take  my  native  town, 
Birmingham. 

Q.  Very  well,  take  Birmingham — and  buy  a  suit  of  tweed  clothes,  equal  in  quality 
to  tweed  clothes  here,  for  half  the  price  ? — A.  Say  75  per  cent.  I  can  buy  a  good  suit 
of  tweed  clothes  at  home  for  4"2s.  that  would  cost  me  £3  10s.  here.  Of  course  that  is 
cheap  huits  at  home — tourists'  suits. 

Q.  Then  in  the  item  of  house  rent  and  clothing  the  colonial  expenditure  is  larger 
than  the  home  expenditure  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  And  in  the  item  of  living,  is  not  the  colonial  expenditure  less  ?— A.  No;  I  think 
it  about  the  same  at  home. 

Q.  Do  not  we  get  a  better  style  of  living  for  the  same  expenditure  here  ? — A.  Per- 
haps we  do. 

Q.  Perhaps  we  spend  as  mnch,  I  do  not  dispute  that ;  but  would  not  the  kind  of 
living  you  get  here  for  an  equal  expenditure  be  preferable  to  what  yon  get  at  home  ? — 
A.  I  think  not. 

Q.  How  do  you  account  for  that  when  the  price  of  meat  and  bread  is  so  much  bet- 
ter in  the  colony  ? — A.  I  should  prefer  one  mutton  chop  at  home  to  a  leg  of  mutton 
in  Victoria. 

Q.  Have  yon  made  any  calculation  as  to  the  cost  of  living  between  Melbourne  and 
Birminghani,  so  as  to  tell  us  how  much  per  week  extra  you  should  have  here  to  com- 
pensate you  for  tile  iniieasf  iu  the  cost  of  living  here? — A.  You  mean  to  include 
clothing,  house  rent,  and  everything? 

Q.  Yes;  how  much  more  in  Melbourne  would  be  the  equivalent  of  your  wages  in 
Birmingham  1 — A.  Three  pounds  a  week  in  this  country  is  not  any  better  than  358.  in 
the  old  country. 

Q.  'J  hat  is  a  difference  of  "iSs.  a  week  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  You  consider  that  you  in  Melbourne,  with  25s.  a  week  extra  wages,  would  bene 


376  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

better  oft' tliau  at  borne  ? — A.  With  35s.;  I  have  proved  that  myself ;  I  have  gone  into 
that. 

Q.  You  have  gone  into  the  calculation,  and  that  is  your  estimate? — A.  Yes. 

By  Mr.  Bosisto  : 

Q.  What  kind  of  a  house  were  you  living  in  in  Birmingham? — A.  I  had  a  very 
nice  two-story  house,  with  seven  rooms  and  a  good  garden,  for  6s.  a  week. 

Q.  How  far  was  that  from  Birmingham  ? — A.  I  could  walk  home  to  dinner  between 
1  and  2  o'clock,  and  have  my  dinner  comfortably  and  enjoy  my  walk  in  the  garden, 
too,  in  an  hour  and  ten  minutes. 

e.  Statement  of  a  die-si tilccr. 

George  Palmer,  a  jeweler's  die-sinker,  sworn  and  examined. 

By  Mr.  Tucker  : 

Question.  Where  did  you  learn  your  trade  ? — Answer.  In  Birmingham. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  colony  'i — A.  Eight  years. 

Q.  You  heard  the  evidence  of  the  last  witness  as  to  the  cost  of  living  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  And  tlie  comparison  with  Victoria;  do  you  agree  with  him? — A.  No;  I  do  not 
agree  with  him. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  cost  of  living  is  less  here,  or  more,  than  in  England? — A.  It 
may  be  a  little  more  ;  rent  is  high. 

Q.  Leave  the  question  of  rent  out  altogether,  is  it  higher  then? — A.  I  doubt  it.  I 
doubt  ^vhether,  if  a  workman  lived  up  to  the  standard  he  does  here,  it  would  not  cost 
him  as  much  in  the  old  country. 

Q.  You  think  the  standard  of  living  is  lower  in  the  old  country  than  it  is  here? — 
A.  As  regards  the  working  classes,  it  is. 

Q.  Then  you  do  not  agree  with  the  statement  that  £3  a  week  in  Victoria  is  no  bet- 
ter than  .35s.  in  England  ? — A.  I  cannot  agree  with  that. 

Q.  A  man  getting  35s.  a  week  in  Birmingham  and  coming  to  Victoria  and  getting 
£3  a  week,  betters  his  condition  ? — A.  He  does. 

/.  Statement  of  a  smith. 

Joseph  Seddox  sworn  and  examined. 
By  the  Chairman  : 

Question.  What  are  you  ? — Answer.  I  am  a  smith  bj-  ti*ade. 

Q.  What  are  you  employed  at  now  ? — A.  I  am  employed  at  smith  work. 

Q.  In  a  foundry  ? — A.  In  Mr.  Thompson's  foundry. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  employed  at  your  present  business? — A.  I  have  been 
about  twenty-three  years  in  the  colony — mostly  employed  in  Castlemaine. 

Q.  What  is  the  present  rate  of  wages  that  you  earn  ? — A.  About  four  pounds  eight 
a  week. 

Q.  What  were  you  earning  ten  years  ago? — A  Sixteen  .shillings  a  day;  in  fact,  I 
never  bad  less  since  I  came  into  the  colony. 

Q.  Never  less  than  what  ? — A.  Sixteen  shillings  a  day. 

Q.  Are  you  earning  sixteen  shillings  a  day? — A.  No. 

Q.  As  a  representative  working  man,  do  you  find  the  cost  of  living  increased  since 
the  duties  were  imposed  ? — A.  No  ;  I  do  not  see  any  ditt'erence  in  that  respect. 

Q.  Do  you  pay  anymore  for  your  food  than  you  did  ? — A.  No ;  much  about  the  same. 

Q.  Do  you  ])ay  the  same  for  clothing  that  you  did  ? — A.  I  think  it  is  much  about 
the  same  as  it  was.  I  have  never  seen  much  dift'erence  since  1  came  to  the  colony. 
Certainly,  I  think  more  clothing  is  made  by  tailors  now  than  was  tifteen  years  ago. 

Q.  You  buy  less  slop  clothes;  you  have  more  made  at  the  tailors,  is  that  it? — A. 
Exactly. 

Q.  Do  you  think  you  get  as  good  an  article  as  you  did? — A.  A  better  article ;  it  lasts 
longer;  in  fact,  I  have  seen  the  time  when  I  bought  shoes  out  of  a  shop  they  did  not 
last  me  three  months,  they  were  done  lump  and  stump,  and  now  I  get  a  pair  of  shoes 
that  lasts  me  longer  than  twelve  months,  and  nobody  is  harder  on  shot's  than  I  am. 

Q.  Do  you  pay  more  for  your  shoes  now  ? — A.  I  used  to  give  about  twelve  shillings 
for  them  imported,  and  the  last  I  bought  I  gave  sixteen  shillings  for,  and  I  find  that 
they  are  much  cheaper  by  far  than  the  others. 

Q.  Is  house  rent  dearer? — A.  I  never  was  one  that  [laid  house  rent,  except  about 
twenty -three  years  ago.     1  have  property  of  my  own. 

Q.  Do  you  have  those  shoes  made  to  measure  for  you  that  you  buy  now  ? — A.  I 
have  them  made  to  order. 

Q.  ('an  you  tell  us,  as  a  landlord,  whether  house  rent  has  increased  or  decreased? — 
A.  I  have  only  the  proi)erty  I  live  in  at  present. 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  377 

Q.  If  you  bad  let  that  property  Hfteea  years  ago,  could  you  get  more  for  it  than 
you  could  to-day  ? — A.  Twice  as  much. 

Q.  Tlieu  as  far  as  your  experience  goes  house  rent  is  twice  as  cheap  as  it  was? — A. 
Of  course  the  house  has  paid  for  itself  long  ago.  and  that  is  riglit  enough. 

Q.  Is  rent  more  than  it  was  twenty  years  ago  ? — A.  No ;  less  by  half. 

By  Mr.  McIntiuk  : 

Q.  You  are  paid  at  present  four  i>onnds  eight  a  week  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  How  many  hours  do  you  work  f<M-  that  ? — A.  Eight  hours  a  day. 

Q.  The  whole  week  through? — A.  The  whole  week  throujih. 

Q.  You  had  live  pounds  eight  a  week,  how  many  year  ago  f— A.  No  ;  not  live  pouuds 
eigiit.     I  had  sixteen  shillings  for  the  eight  hours  with  Mr.  Vivian. 

Q.  When  was  that? — A.  That  is  within  live  years  ago,  i)revious  to  going  to  Mr. 
Thompson. 

Q.  In  regard  to  the  cost  of  living,  you  say  that  clothing  is  cheaper  than  it  was? — 
A.  No  ;  I  do  not  see  any  difference. 

Q.  You  say  it  is  better  value? — A.  It  is  a  better  article. 

Q.  Does  that  not  mean  cliea])er  ? — A.  It  is. 

Q.  With  regard  to  boots,  tin;  boots  you  bought  before  were  imported  ? — A.  They 
were. 

Q.  Have  you  bought  any  ready-made  boots  in  the  shops  here? — A.  I  have  not  bought 
ready-made  boots  for  ten  years. 

Q.  Your  evideiu'c  only  refers  to  bespoke  goods? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Is  sixteen  shillings  the  average  price  ? — A.  It  is  about  the  top. 

Q.  AVould  yo]i  mean  to  say  that,  as  one  pair  of  boots  lasted  twelve  months,  and  the 
other  three,  the  colonial  boot  was  worth  four  pairs  of  the  imported  ? — A.  If  I  order  a 
pair  of  shoes  they  generally  last  me  two  soles  after  the  new  ones  are  worn  otf. 

Q.  With  regard  to  provisions,  are  not  candles  a  great  deal  cheaper  than  they  were 
twenty  years  ago? — A.  Yes;  a  great  deal. 

Q.   Mutter,  cheese,  and  all  otlu'r  articles — are  they  not  cheaper? — A.  They  are. 

Q.  But  you  said  they  were  about  the  same  ? — A.  Taking  one  with  the  other,  they 
are  about  the  same. 

Q.  Is  not  bread  much  cheaper? — A.  Taking  bread  and  all  those  things,  they  are 
cheaper  than  when  we  came,  no  doubt. 

Q.  Say  ten  yejirs  ago? — A.  There  is  not  much  difference  from  ten  years  ago. 

(/.  Statement  of  a  baker. 
Hknry  Foley  examined. 

Question.  What  are  you  ? — Answer.  A  baker. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  business  ? — A.  Ever  since  I  was  born. 

Q.  How  many  years  ? — A.  Twenty-five  years  as  working  journeyman. 

Q.  What  are  the  usual  hours  that  you  are  called  upon  to  work  ? — A.  When  I  first 
came  to  Victoria,  eleven  years  ago,  I  was  working  from  11  o'clock  at  night  to  2  o'clock 
the  next  afternoon,  with  no  intermission  for  meals.  I  was  with  Mr.  Harrison,  of  Col- 
lingwood. 

Q.  That  is  fifteen  hours  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  And  yon  still  survive? — A.  Yes.  On  Friday  night  it  was  twenty  hours;  we 
worked  till  3  o'clock  on  Friday  afternoon  to  give  euougli  bread  to  do  over  Sunday. 

Q.  What  are  the  hours  now  ? — A.  Since  the  agitation  it  is  onlj  ten  hours. 

Q.  W^wn  did  this  agitation  occur? — A.  Since  the  first  of  October  last  year. 

Q.  Yon  do  not  complain  so  much  of  your  hours  now  ? — A.  We  want  to  be  placed  on 
the  same  footing  as  the  other  tradesmen.  We  have  to  pay  for  their  eight  hours,  and 
we  do  not  see  why  they  should  not  i)ay  for  our  eight  hours  too.  When  a  contractor 
takes  a  contract  for  a  certain  amount  of  work,  he  does  it  with  eighr  hours'  men,  and 
we  have  to  work  ten  hours. 

Q.  You  want  to  be  ])ut  on  an  equality  with  all  the  other  trades  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  What  time  do  you  go  on  as  ;i  rule  ?— A.  We  have  no  set  time.  Some  shops  go 
on  at  8  o'clock  at  uight,someU,  some  11,  and  some  1;  the  principal  shops  go  on  at  8 
o'clock  at  night. 

Q.  And  work  till  when  ?— A.  Ten  hours  after  that. 

Q.  What  lionr^  do  you  have  during  that  time  for  meals? — A.  None  at  all  ;  we  are 
allowed  half  an  hour,  but  as  a  rule  we  do  not  get  it.  We  have  got  it  lately,  but  be- 
foie  the  short  hours  we  had  to  work  fifteen  hours  right  ofi",  and  get  no  hours  for  onr 
meals  at  all. 

Q.  Has  the  alteration  of  the  hours  been  genei'al  throughout  the  trade  ? — A.  Yes,  I 
believe  it  has  ;  we  know  for  a  fact  it  has  been  general. 

Q.  Are  you  connected  with  any  trade  association  ? — A.  Only  the  Operative  Bakers' 
Society  ;  I  am  the  secretary. 

Q.  You  are  part  of  the  Amalgamated  Trades'  Association  that  meets  at  the  Trades' 


378  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

Hull? — A.  We  meet  there,  but  we  do  uot  belong  to  the  Amalgamated  Trades'  Associa- 
tion yet;  we  have  appointed  our  delegates,  but  they  have  not  tiiken  their  seats  yet. 

Q.  Have  there  been  many  disputes  between  you  f — A.  Yes ;  it  talies  us  all  our  time 
to  maintain  the  ten  hours  against  the  employers ;  they  say  thej'  will  not  benefit  by  it, 
but  they  benefit  moie  by  it  than  wi'  do. 

Q.  Do  you  consider  that  the  cighr  bours'  system  shonld  be  extended  to  the  bakers  as 
well  as  to  the  otlier  trades  ? — A.  Certainly ;  tor  the  reason  that  the  public  should  pay 
for  onr  eight  hours  the  same  ;is  we  pay  for  theirs. 

Q.  How  do  you  account  for  it  that  you  cannot  get  the  eight  hours  as  well  as  the 
other  trades  ? — A.  The  pressure  that  is  brought  to  bear  against  us  by  the  public  run- 
ning to  the  ditferent  employers.  We  have  a  lot  of  men  working  long  hours  who  have 
set  up  for  themselves  and  employ  no  men. 

Q.  Have  you  made  any  ai»peal  to  the  emi)loyers  to  reduce  the  hours  of  labor? — A. 
Certainly;  we  have  reduced  it  from  fifteen  hours  to  ten. 

Q.  Have  you  made  a  further  appeal  since  that  ? — A.  No ;  we  are  trying  to  maintain 
the  ten  hours  at  present. 

Q.  Does  it  make  any  appreciable  difterence  in  the  price  of  bread — the  shortning  of 
the  hours  ? — A.  It  has  made  no  difiereuce  as  yet — the  bread  was  tlie  same  price  before 
as  it  is  now — the  master  Ijakers  never  rose  the  price  of  bread. 

Q.  If  the  eight  hours  were  conceded,  you  do  not  think  the  change  would  be  felt? — 
A.  It  would  not  make  much  difierence  to  persons  taking  bread  by  the  week. 

Q.  It  would  not  much  advance  the  price  of  a  loaf  of  bread? — A.  No  ;  still  they  would 
have  to  maintain  it  to  give  i;s  our  eight  hours,  at  a  certain  iirice,  the  same  as  the  con- 
fectioners have  done. 

Q.  Then  I  understand  the  competition  that  master  bakers  who  employ  labor  have 
to  risk  is  that  of  men  working  on  their  own  account  as  long  as  hours  they  please  ? — 
A.  Yes,  that  i>  the  idea;  men  who  have  worked  long  hours  go  into  business  them- 
selves, and  still  work  long  hours.  In  our  late  agitation  we  are  asking  for  less  wages 
than  a  laboring  man  gets,  working  eight  hours  a  day.  We  are  only  asking  lOd.  an 
hour,  and  a  laboring  man  gets  Is.  an  hour  for  eight  hours  a  day. 

Q.  Is  is  not  the  case  sometimes  that  the  bread  does  not  rise  suflBciently  early  to 
enable  you  to  complete  the  work  within  the  eight  hours? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  How  do  you  propose  meeting  that  ? — A.  By  starting  the  eight  hours  from  the 
time  we  start  our  work,  from  the  time  it  does  rise. 

Q.  If  you  had  the  eight  hours,  would  the  employers  require  more  men? — A.  Cer- 
tainly, and  that  would  absorb  the  surplus  labor  in  the  market. 

Q.  There  are  plenty  of  bakers  to  be  had  if  the  employers  want  them? — A.  Cer- 
tainly; the  very  fact  of  their  working  the  long  hours  is  keeping  those  men  out  of 
work. 

Q.  Are  there  many  journeymen  bakers  out  of  work  now? — A.  I  could  not  exactly 
say. 

Q.  What  are  the  wages  of  journeymen  bakers  ? — A.  The  minimum  is  £2  lOs.  a  week  ; 
foremen  get  as  much  as  they  can  above  that.  We  only  get  lOd.  an  hour  for  skilled 
labor,  2d.  less  than  men  get  working  in  the  street. 

/(.  Statemeut  of  a  flini-(jla8s  worker. 

JoSKPH  COOKSEY.  flint-glass  maker,  sworn  and  examined. 
By  the  Chairman  : 

Question.  You  have  been  eight  months  away  from  England  ? — Answer.  I  lauded 
here  on  the  30th  October. 

Q.  May  I  ask  if  you  have  auy  family? — A.  Six.  I  have  one  grown  up  son  with 
me. 

Q.  Did  yon  bring  the  six  with  you  ?— A.  No;  only  one  of  ray  grown  up  sons. 

Q.  Then  the  remainder  of  your  family  are  able  to  support  themselves,  I  presume? — 
A.  I  have  got  one  married,  and  one  in  the  army. 

Q.  I  do  not  want  to  follow  that  particularly.  They  are  not  dependent  upon  yon 
to  maintain? — A.   Some  of  them  are. 

Q.  What  I  want  to  ascertain  is,  whether  you  find  any  difference  in  the  cost  of  liv- 
ing as  a  fanuly  man  here,  and  the  cost  of  living  at  home? — A.  Yes,  a  deal.  If  I  had 
got  my  family  here,  it  would  be  dearer  for  my  family  to  live  than  it  is  at  honie. 

Q.  Would  you  live  as  well  in  England  with  a  family  of  six,  for  a  less  sum  of  money 
than  you  could  live  liere? — A.  Yes  ;  1  could. 

Q.  Is  house  rent  here  much  dearer? — A.  Yes;  a  great  deal.  I  left  a  very  nice 
house  at  home  that  I  paid  4.v.  a  week  for,  and  coal  sixpence  a  hundredweight.  You 
cannot  get  that  here — Ws.  a  ton. 

Q.  You  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  Birmingham? — A.  I  was  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Birmingham. 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  379 

Q.  How  luany  rooms  would  this  house  at  4s.  a  week  have  ? — A.  Attic  high,  three 
stories  high. 

Q.  How  many  rooms? — A.  One  bedroom  above  another,  and  the  one  we  lived  iu 
below;  and  we  make  cellars  in  our  houses  at  home — not  like  the  cellars  here. 

Q.  This  house  would  have  three  rooms,  one  above  the  other,  and  4«.  a  week? — A. 
Four  shillings  a  week — a  nice  house. 

Q.  Did  you  say  a  cellar  as  wellf — A.  A  cellar  as  well,  under  the  house — arched  un- 
der the  house. 

Q.  It  is  four  apartments? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  What  was  the  cost  of  bread.  Was  it  more  thau  it  is  here  ? — A.  It  was  fivepeuce 
a  loaf  when  I  came  away. 

Q.  The  average  price  at  home  was  about  sixpence,  was  it  not? — A.  Yes;  itis  about 
sixpence,  average  price. 

Q.  So  it  i.s  about  the  samo  as  it  is  here? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Meat  is  dearer  at  home,  is  it  uot?— A.  That  is  the  only  thing  at  home  that  is 
dearer  at  present. 

Q.  Are  vegetables  cheaper  at  home  thau  here? — A.  You  cau  get  a  good  beefsteak 
at  fourteen  or  fifteen  pence  a  pound.  Chops — ihe  nice  mutton  chops — cost  tenpeuce 
or  elevenpence  a  pound. 

Q.  So  that  meat  is  much  dearer  thau  it  is  here? — A.  You  get  beautiful  bacon  at  six- 
pence a  pound,  and  ham  at  eightpeuce :  and  beautiful  ham,  not  salty  aud  tough,  such 
as  you  get  here,  that  you  cannot  eat. 

Q.  I  was  asking  about  the  price  of  vegetables.  Wluit  could  you  buy  a  hundred- 
weight of  potatoes  for  at  home  when  you  left  ? — A.  We  did  not  buy  a  hundredweight, 
except  the  .shopkei>i)ers. 

Q.  How  (lid  you  buy  them  ? — A.  You  can  buy  a  half-peunyworth.  You  cau  buy  iive 
pounds  for  twoix'ucehalf-penuy. 

Q.  But  you  as  a  family  man  wanting  to  buy  cheaply,  of  course,  would  not  buy  po- 
tatoes by  the  pennyworth? — A.  You  cau  buy  five  pounds  for  threepeiice — as  cheap  as 
yon  cau  buy  by  the  hundredweight. 

Q.  What  did  you  pay  for  butter? — A.  One  and  tenpeuce  to  two  shillings  a  pound, 
the  best  butter. 

Q.  Was  that  the  usual  i)rice  all  the  year  round  ? — A.  That  is  for  the  very  best,  but 
you  get  all  sorts  of  butter  made  there;  but  it  must  be  all  marked  or  else  they  are 
tiued. 

Q.  What  is  the  cheese  at  home  ? — A.  Yon  cau  get  cheese  from  twopence  a  pound  np 
to  tenpeuce  and  a  shilling. 

Q.  Your  experience  is,  then,  that  living  is  somewhat  dearer  here  than  it  was  in 
Englaud  ? — A.  Yes,  I  am  a  boarder  aud  I  pay  18s.  for  my  board,  and  could  get  it  for 
lUs.  at  home. 

Q.  Board  and  lodging? — A.  Board  aud  lodging,  and  mending,  aud  at  home  I  could 
got  it  quite  as  good  for  Ids. 

Q.  Would  the  comfort  at  home  for  lOs.  be  equal  to  what  you  get  for  188  here? — A. 
Yes;  «iuite  as  good. 

Q.  As  good  provisions? — A.  Yes;  quite  as  good. 

Q.  So  that  you  lose  8s.  on  your  expenditure? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  And  you  gain  about  £'2  6s.  on  your  income? — A.  Sometimes. 

By  Mr.  Grimwadic: 
Q.  It  is  a  fine  country,  is  it  not  ? — A,  Yes;  a  beautiful  couutry.     I  like  the  country 
very  much,  myself. 

By  the  Cuairmax  : 
Q.  So  that  taking  the  increase  of  expenditure  on  the  one  hand,  and  putting  the 
increase  of  income  on  tlie  other,  you  prefer  this  couutry  to  the  old  couutry  ?— A.  I  do, 
or  I  should  not  have  come  out.  I  have  had  an  inclination  to  couu*  out  here  for  years — 
to  come  out  to  the  country.  I  had  my  emigration  papers  signed  twice  before,  and  ray 
wife  would  not  sign  them,  aud  they  would  not  bring  me  without  her. 

By  Mr.  Gui.mwade: 

Q.   How  did  you  get  out  this  time? — A.  Tiirough  the  company. 

By  the  Chairman: 

Q.  Have  von  any  suggestion  to  make  beside  the  measurement  of  glassware? — A. 
No. 

By  Mr.  McIntyre: 
Q.  You  say,  in  America,  they  get  £4  lOs.  a  week  wages? — A.  Sometimes  more. 
Q.  That  is  the  average?— A.  Yes. 

Q.  Have  you  any  idea  of  the  price  of  living  in  America  compared  with  the  old 
country  ? — A.  Not  at  present,  but  I  believe  it  is  very  cheap. 


380  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

Q.  What  was  the  price  of  a  pair  of  troiisera  iu  America — ordinary  ■workmen's 
clothes? — A.  About  2s.  6f/.  difference. 

Q.  Not  more  than  that  ?— A.  No. 

Q.  Would  yon  tell  the  Comniissiou  how  much  your  average  wages  were  since  j'ou 
arrived  here  eight  months  ago ;  you  say  one  week  you  made  £4  158.  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  How  much  have  your  wages  averaged  siuce  you  arrived? — A.  I  have  earned 
about  £3  8s.  or  £3  10s.  a  week  since  I  came,  but  sometimes  we  were  stopped  for  want 
of  metal. 

By  Mr.  F'isher: 
Q.  Suppose  you  were  living  with  your  family  in  this  colony  in  the  same  comforta- 
ble way  you  did  in  England,  and  with  the  wages  you  get  here  at  your  particular  work, 
in  which  place  would  you  save  the  more  money? — A.  I  dare  say  I  should  save  more 
here  if  I  had  my  family  here.  You  nmst  understand  that  because  all  my  girls  are 
servant  girls,  they  would  get  more  wages.     I  have  three  uice  girls  at  service. 

i.  Statement  of  a  tailor. 

John  Livingstone  sworn  and  examined. 

Question.  Where  are  you  employed  ? — Answer.  Scourfield  &  Coultas,  Collins  street. 

Q.  At  what  employment  ? — A.  Tailoring. 

Q.  How  many  journeymen  are  employed  along  with  you  ? — A.  From  twenty-five  to 
thirty. 

Q.  That  is  the  number  employed  upon  the  premises? — A.  Yes,  upon  the  premises. 

Q  Have  your  employers  put  work  out  to  be  done  as  well  ? — A.  There  is  only  one 
case  of  that,  and  that  is  a  man  that  is  in  delicate  health. 

Q.  Hrt  takes  his  work  home? — A.  In  this  instance  he  was  allowed  to  do  so. 

Q.  How  many  apjtrentices  are  employed  in  the  establishment  ? — A.  None. 

Q.  Is  your  work  done  by  piece-work  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  The  whole  of  it? — A.  Yes,  with  the  exception  of  one  man,  who  does  jobbing. 

Q.  And  he  is  paid  by  the  day  ? — A.  By  the  week. 

Q.  What  is  the  average  rate  of  wages  that  a  journeyman  can  earn  in  your  estab- 
lishment?— A.  We  work  by  a  time  log;  that  is,  a  log  framed  that  allows  so  many 
hours  for  each  garment,  and  according  to  that  garment,  whether  there  is  more  or  less 
work,  it  is  paid  accordiugly,  and  that  log  is  made  which  both  the  men  and  the  em- 
ployers have  agreed  to,  and  we  are  paid  by  that  log  at  the  rate  of  lOrf.  per  hour. 

Q.  Coming  back  to  my  question,  what  does  the  average  amount  come  to  that  the 
workmen  earn  upon  this  system  ? — A.  That  would  be  rather  a  difficult  question  for 
an  ordinary  journeyman  to  answer.  I  might  be  able  to  give  an  idea  of  my  own,  but 
when  men  sometimes  work  irregularly  it  is  difficult  to  give  an  average. 

Q.  I  go  upon  the  assumption  that  a  man  works  for  a  week — what  is  the  avearge  he 
can  earn  for  a  week ;  of  course  if  he  only  works  half  a  week  he  can  only  expect  to 
earn  half  the  amount — is  it  £3  a  week,  or  £4  a  week,  or  £3  10s.  a  week,  or  what? — 
A.  In  our  shop  about  £2  to  £3  a  week  is  the  range ;  it  would  not  average  £3  a  week. 

Q.  How  many  hours  a  day  do  you  work  for  that  wage  ? — A.  We  work  between  ten 
and  eleven  hours  a  day. 

Q.  You  are  all  good  workmen— they  employ  first-class  workmen,  do  they  not? — A. 
Yes. 

Q.  And  no  apprentices  are  employed  at  all ;  you  do  not  teach  people  ? — A.  We  have 
no  lads  in  the  place  sewing. 

Q.  Is  it  a  fact  then  that  first-class  men  like  you,  such  as  are  employed  in  your  shop, 
working  ten  or  eleven  hours  a  day,  cannot  average  £3  a  week  ? — A.  No,  we  cannot. 

Q.  And  you  work  ten  or  eleven  hours  a  day  1 — A.  That  is  true. 

Q.  You  say  lOf?.  an  hour? — A.  I  say  lOd.  an  hour.  I  take  the  case  of  a  fairly  aver- 
age man.  There  are  some  meu  that  are  very  expert  at  their  business,  and  by  con- 
stant working  they  might  easily  make  the  £3  a  week,  but  other  men  could  not  come 
near  it,  but  take  a  fair  average  man  he  will  not  make  any  more  than  lOd.  an  hour. 

Q.  We  have  a  good  deal  of  evidence  from  clothing  manufacturers  and  others.  I 
think  more  than  one  of  them  stated  that  their  wages  are  considerably  more  than  that, 
some  as  much  as  £4  a  week? — A.  That  may  be;  perhaps  I  could  explain  that. 

Q.  Could  not  you  earn  as  much  as  that  in  your  first-class  shop  ? — A.  That  is  not 
earned  upon  their  premises. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  trade  as  a  tailor  ? — A.  I  have  been  twenty-nine 
years  in  the  country,  and  I  have  been  working  iu  Melbourne  at  the  trade  ever  since, 
with  a  short  period  I  was  in  Sydney. 

j.  Statmitnt  of  a  tailor. 

Duncan  McIvor  sworn  and  examined. 

Question.  Where  are  you  employed  ? — Answer.  At  Peers  &  Frew,  .^>8  Bourke  street, 
cast. 


LABOR   IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  3Si 

Q.  At  what  are  yon  employed  ? — \.  Tailoring. 

Q.  Any  particular  branch  ? — A.  Coat  making. 

Q.  Entirely  coat  making? — A.  All  coats. 

Q.  How  many  journeymen  are  employed  in  the  same  establishment? — A.  Five  in- 
doors. 

Q.  And  how  many  out? — A.  About  the  same  number — five  or  six  out. 

Q.  Are  they  all  emphtyed  on  coat  work? — A.  No. 

Q.  How  many  apprentices  are  there? — A.  There  are  no  apprentices  at  all. 

Q.  Do  you  work  ])iece-w<)rk  or  day  work? — A.  Piece-work. 

Q.  Do  you  work  by  the  log  that  the  previous  witness  spoke  about? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  You  heard  his  evidence  about  the  average  wages? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Do  you  indorse  that,  or  is  your  idea  different  ? — A.  It  is  about  that ;  I  have  not 
kei)t  a  calculation  for  some  time,  but  I  did  keep  one  for  several  years,  and  it  did  not 
come  to  £2  ^0s. 

Q.  Have  you  been  long  in  the  trade  now  ? — A.  I  have  been  for  abont  twenty-six 
yeai"s  in  Melbourne. 

Q.  All  the  time  in  yonr  trade  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Do  you  say  that  a  pair  of  trousers  conld  be  made  for  Gs.  a  pair  some  time  ago, 
and  now  they  are  made  for  In.  6d.  a  pair? — A.  I  heard  a  gentleman  here  give  evidence 
that  trousers  were  made  for  Is.  Gd. 

Q.  A  pair  of  moleskin  trousers,  not  tweed  trousers? — A.  Moleskin  trousers. 

Q.  Those  Gs.  a  pair  were  of  what  material? — A.  I  understood  him  to  say  trousers 
were  made  in  his  factories  for  Is.  6d.,  but  there  is  not  more  than  id.  difference  be- 
tween moles  and  tweeds. 

Q.  Then  the  establishment  of  factorii-s  has  tended  to  reduce  the  price  of  the  articles 
from  Gs.  to  Is.  lOrf.  ? — A.  As  far  as  the  journeymen  tailors  are  concerned,  now  with  tho 
introduction  of  female  labor,  now  it  is. 

Q.  That  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  introduction  of  machines  and  female  labor? — A. 
Yes. 

Q.  I  think  you  said  just  now  the  journevmeu  tailors  do  not  average  50s.  a  week? — 
A.  No. 

Q.  And  you  also  stated  that  their  time  is  not  all  filled  up — do  you  mean  to  saj 
that  the  time  as  it  is — their  part  time — does  not  average  50s.  a  week  ? — A.  According 
to  our  earnings,  taking  the  year  round,  they  do  not  average  40s.  to  45s.  a  week.  I 
think  that  our  weekly  wages  throughout  the  year  would  average  from  40s.  to  45s. 

Q.  When  they  are  working  full  time,  what  can  they  earn  ? — A.  Of  course,  that  it  is 
a  thing  yon  would  require  to  understand  the  trade.  For  instance,  I  might  be  work- 
ing with  a  party  at  a  job  that  I  could  make  perhaps  5  or  6  or  10s.  a  week  more  than 
another  man  could  do  at  his  work. 

Q.  Take  the  average  man  at  average  work? — A.  There  is  not  one  man  in  the  shop 
out  of  emi)l()ynieut,  and  just  now  they  average  5Us.,  I  think,  the  year  round. 

Q.  That  is  because  their  time  is  not  filled  in  ? — A.  Exactly  so. 

Q.  Snpjiose  you  are  engaged  constantly  in  coat  making  throughout  the  year,  what 
would  be  your  average  ea'uings? — A.  If  I  was  employed  coat  making  the  year  round, 
and  were  in  good  health,  I  should  make  £'.'>  a  week  ujion  the  average.  I  have  dou» 
it  many  times,  and  conld  do  it  now. 

Q.  Have  j'ou  any  idea  of  the  number  of  sewing  hands  now  employed  in  your  trad* 
in  Melbourne? — A.  No. 

A".  Statement  of  a  female  mill-operative. 

Mary  Pegler  .sworn  and  examined. 
By  the  Chairman  : 

Question.  What  is  your  employment  ? — Answer.  A  weaver. 

Q.  In  the  Castlemaine  mill  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  mill  ? — A.  Five  years  at  the  end  of  next  week. 

Q.  Since  the  counuencement  ?  — A.  About  six  months  after  it  commenced. 

Q.   Have  you  been  weaving  all  the  time? — A.  No. 

Q.   What,  ilid  you  do  at  first? — A.  I  was  picking  wool  at  first. 

Q.  What  did  you  earn  at  that  employment  ? — A.  From  3s.  to  5s.  a  week. 

Q.  How  long  did  von  n'.main  at  that? — A.  I  do  not  know  the  exact  time;  eixmonths, 
I  think. 

Q.   What  did  you  do  next? — A.  Burling. 

Q.  What  did  you  earn  at  that? — A.  About  the  same.  I  was  at  that  about  tTfelr* 
months. 

Q.  What  was  the  next  stage? — A.  Weaving. 

Q.  Have  you  been  weaving  ever  since? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  What  did  you  earn  at  that  when  first  you  commeiiced  ? — A.  Abont  12s.  a  week. 

Q.  What  do  you  earn  now  ? — A.   2.5s.  to  30s. 


382  LABOR   IN   AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

Q.  How  do  you  account  for  the  differeucfi  between  your  earnings  at  the  coramenee- 
meut  and  now  ? — A.  None  can  earn  as  much  at  first  as  they  do  afterwards. 

Q.  But  how  do  you  account  for  the  difference? — A.  Only  that  I  got  better  accom- 
plished at  the  work. 

Q.   You  can  do  it  faster? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  You  say  you  earn  from  25s.  to  30.".  Do  you  oftener  earn  25s.  tbau  you  do  the 
308.  ?— A.  Yes. 

Q.  Have  you  that  for yourf-elf  after  payiiifj;  your  assistant? — A.  I  haveuo  assistant. 

Q.  The  other  witness  wlio  just  wont  out  has  uo  assistant  f — A.  Yes.  she  has. 

Q.  Could  you  have  one  if  you  chose? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Could  you  earn  more  if  you  had  oue  ? — A.  I  think  not. 

Q.  Do  you  attend  to  two  looms  or  one? — A.  Two. 

Q.  Do  you  go  home  to  your  meals  ? — A.  No. 

Q.  Do  you  take  your  meals  in  the  factory  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  In  the  room  where  you  work  ? — A.  No. 

Q.  Is  there  any  special  room  where  you  could  take  meals? — A.  No,  only  I  and  an- 
other girl  go  to  one  room. 

Q.  You  could  go  to  any  room  you  like? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Evei-y  employ^  has  the  run  of  the  factory  at  meal  times  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Which  room  do  you  select  for  your  meals  ? — A.  The  finishing  room. 

Q.  Is  that  a  little  room  up-ritairs? — A.  Ye.s. 

Q.  Have  you  convenieuces  provided  for  you  to  cook  your  dinner  if  you  like  ? — A. 
We  always  take  our  dinners  ready  cooked,  and  sometimes  we  have  it  sent  to  us  from 
home. 

Q.  You  have  conveniences  for  boiling  water  for  tea,  and  so  on  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Do  the  employes  complain  at  all  of  not  having  a  dining-room  ? — A.  I  never 
heard  them. 

Q.  Would  you  consider  it  a  great  convenience  to  have  such  a  room  put  up,  with  a 
few  tables  and  forms  ? — A.  I  do  not  think  so  ;  I  would  just  as  soon  like  it  as  it  is  now. 

Q.  Do  you  like  the  occupation  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Have  you  good  health  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Have  you  been  ill  since  you  were  at  it  ? — A.  No. 

Q.  Do  all  the  other  girls  who  are  weavers,  and  have  been  as  long  at  the  business  as 
yourself  and  the  one  just  gone  out.  earn  the  same  wages  ? — A.  Some  vary. 

Q.  What  has  the  lowest  weaver  ?  How  many  have  been  in  the  mills,  to  your  knowl- 
edge, as  long  as  yon,  who  are  weavers? — A.  Only  three,  I  think. 

Q.  Do  all  earn  as  much  as  you  do  ? — A.  Yes,  they  do. 

Q.  There  is  ;inother  in  the  mill  beside  the  one  examined  this  morning — that  is 
Marv  Ann  Smith,  the  last  witness — beside  you  ;  does  she  earn  as  much  as  you? — A. 
Yes."" 

Q.  The  others,  who  have  not  been  so  long  as  you,  what  do  they  earn  ? — A.  Twelve 
shillings  to  £1  a  week. 

Q.  Are  they  as  good  at  it  as  von  ? — A.  Yes,  and  do  it  as  well  as  I  do. 

Q.  What  they  do  of  it  ?— A.  Yes. 

Q.  But  they  cannot  do  it  as  quickly  ? — A.  No. 

By  Mr.  Munko  : 

Q.  Do  not  you  think  the  hours  are  rather  long? — A.  I  have  no  complaint. 

Q.  From  6  o'clock  in  the  morning  in  winter? — A.  I  do  not  mind  it.  It  is  rather 
long,  but  we  would  not  earn  as  nuich  at  8  hours  a  day. 

Q.  Then  in  summer,  the  long  hot  days  ? — A.  But  I  would  not  like  to  go  home  in  the 
hot  sunshine,  I  would  rather  go  in  the  evening. 

By  Mr.  Tucker  : 

Q.  How  far  do  you  live  away  ? — A.  About  a  mile. 

Q.  Are  your  parents  alive  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  What  does  your  father  do  ? — A.  He  works  in  Kunnock's  tannery. 

Q.  How  many  are  there  in  fiimily  beside  yourself? — A.  Three  sisters  and  three 
brothers. 

Q.  Do  any  of  them  work  in  the  mill? — A.  No. 

Q.  Do  any  intend  to  go  there  ? — A.  No. 

Q.  Would  you  like  them  to  go  there? — A.  There  is  only  one  that  could,  and  that  is 
my  sister,  and  she  must  .stop  at  home :  some  one  must  stop  at  home. 

Q.  After  yonr  own  experience  would  you  like  to  see  your  brothers  and  sisters  there 
at  work  in  itho  mill?  — A.  Yes,  I  would  not  mind.  I  like  it  very  well,  I  am  perfectly 
satisfied,  and  always  have  been  ever  since  I  went  there. 

By  Mr.  McIntyre  : 
Q.  Are  you  kindly  treated  by  your  employers  ? — A.  Yes. 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA,  383 

/.  Slatemeni  of  a  female  coat-maker. 

Miss  B.  examined. 

By  the  Commission  : 

Question.  You  are  employed  in  what  eapjicity? — Answer.  Coat-making. 

Q,  That  is  the  highest  branch  of  the  trade  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Have  you  been  long  in  that  position  ? — A.  About  live  years. 

Q.  In  what  lirm  ?— A.  Barthold. 

Q.  What  terms  were  yon  iMigaged  on  when  you  entered  into  that  business? — A.  I 
went  as  apprentice  for  eighteen  months. 

Q.  On  what  terms  ? — A.  Two  shillings  sixpence  a  week  for  the  first  six  months  and 
5«.  the  next  six  months  and  7«.  ik(.  the  next. 

Q.  And  after  the  third  six  montlis? — A.  On  piece-work. 

Q.  What  amount,  as  a  general  rule,  does  a  fair  hand  earn  on  piece-work,  after  she 
has  served  eighteen  months  ? — A.  There  are  two  ditferent  prices — the  sacs  and  pagets — 
the  pagets  make  more;  about  oOs.  a  week  with  very  good  work.  At  sacs  yon  can 
make  about  £1. 

Q.  What  portion  of  the  coat  do  you  make? — A.  The  paget  coat. 

Q.  And  you  take  it  from  the  haiuls  of  the  cutter  f — A.  No,  from  the  forewoman;  we 
get  them  from  the  cutter  after  they  are  triumied. 

Q.  Are  they  tacked  together  for  you^ — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Do  you  do  all? — A.  All  but  the  button-holes  and  the  machining. 

Q.  You  do  all  that  a  comnetent  hand  is  expected  to  do  with  a  coat  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  In  the  establishment  you  have  been  connected  with,  what  ]uo])ortion  have  the 
apjireutices  borne  to  the  other  hands? — A.  The  apprentices  generally  serve  twelve 
months  now,  and  we  have  only  two  or  three  now;  there  are  very  few  hands  there. 

Q.  When  you  are  in  full  work  have  you  many? — A.  No,  they  do  not  keep  a  table  at 
all  i'or  apprentices. 

Q.  Is  the  log  that  was  agreed  to  on  the  strike  taking  place  some  few  months  ago 
the  one  that  has  been  adhered  to? — A.  No,  not  the  tirst  t;ne. 

Q.  Although  it  was  tendered  as  a  settlement  of  the  question  substantially,  the  em- 
ployers have  not  complied  with  it* — A.  The  coats  are  paid  by  the  log,  but  not  the 
trousers  and  vests. 

Q.  And  I  su[)pose  they  are  with  piece-workers? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  How  many  coats  a  week  is  a  competent  hand  supposed  to  complete  to  earn,  say 
30».  a  week  or  25s.  a  week  ? — A.  Yon  have  to  make  nine  or  ten  ;  with  pagets  you  get 
about  As.  Gd.  for  each  coat,  and  you  could  only  make  about  seven  of  them  and  be  verj 
smart. 

Q.  What  time  does  your  factory  open  and  close? — A.  About  nine,  and  leave  oft" 
about  six. 

Q.  And  how  long  do  you  get  for  lunch  f — A.  Three-quarters  of  an  hour. 

Q.  Theti  you  have  about  eight  hours? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Do  you  take  work  home  ? — A.  Very  seldom ;  some  of  them  do,  to  make  any  money 
at  it  at  all. 

Q.  What  time  do  you  consider  it  would  take  a  fair  hand  to  be  a  competent  coat- 
maker  ?— A.  It  would  take  two  years. 

Q.  Do  yon  think  it  is  fair  that  those  who  have  not  served  two  years  should  enter 
iuto'competition  with  those  who  have  ? — A.  No. 

Q.  Do  they  not  sometimes  do  it  for  less  money  than  competent  persons  will,  and 
bring  the  priet;  down  ? — A.  Yes.  that  is  one  of  our  difficulties;  they  have  tried  since 
the  log  to  reduce  them,  and  they  give  them  out  door  work  to  do. 

Q.  Tliose  who  are  not  thoroughly  competent  do  it  for  less  money? — A.  No,  they  do 
not  do  it,  but  the  employer  wants  them  to  reduce  it. 

Q.  Di<l  your  employers  agree  to  this  log? — A.  They  agreed  to  it,  but  they  did  not 
keep  to  it. 

Q.  Wiiat  is  the  reason? — A.  I  do  not  know. 

Q.  What  reason  have  they  assigned  ?— A.  They  said  it  was  too  high,  and  they  agreed 
to  take  it,  but  they  have  not  done  so. 

Q.  How  long  after  signing  the  agreement  did  they  break  it? — A.  About  three  weeks 
or  a  month  after.  He  has  given  most  of  the  work  outside  to  be  done — he  gets  it 
cheaper. 

Q.  Those  are  the  "  sweaters"? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  Are  they  members  of  the  union  ? — A.  I  do  not  think  all  of  them  are ;  some 
might  be. 

Q.  What  action  did  the  employes  take  when  they  found  the  employers  refused  to 
acknowledge  this  log? — A.  They  could  not  do  anything,  and  when  tlie  hands  wonld 
not  take  the  work  lor  the  money  they  sent  it  outside. 

Q.  ^l)  y<ni  think  that  tlie  strike  that  took  place  three  months  ago  ])]aced  you  in  a 
better  jiosition  than  you  are  in  at  the  jjiesent  time? — A.  It  did  for  a  while,  but  it  did 
not  continue,  and  everywhere  the  work  went  out  the  hands  inside  had  nothing  to  do. 


384:  LABOR    IX    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

Q.  Do  yon  think  the  majority  of  the  euiploy<5s  are  worse  oft'  row  thau  before  the 
strike? — A.  The  majority  of  them  are. 

Q.  Then,  virtually  the  strike  was  a  bad  thing  ? — A.  It  was  for  some  of  the  hands — 
the  out  door  hands  made  a  benefit  by  it. 

Q.  The  strike  prevented  the  lowering  of  the  prices  beyond  what  they  were  at  the 
time — temporal  ily  ? — A.   Yes. 

Q.  If  the  employers  could  have  been  compelled  to  have  kept  up  to  their  agreement, 
the  employes  would  have  been  satisfied? — A.   Yes. 

Q.  Though  a  number  of  outside  persons  were  Ijrought  iuto  competition  with  the 
factory  hands,  was  that  through  the  strike  ? — A.  No. 

Q.  Did  they  carry  on  business  before  ? — A.  Not  so  many,  nearly. 

Q.  Then,  in  consequence  of  the  strike,  and  the  prices  being  fixed,  the  threat  the 
erai)loj'ers  used  was  that  they  could  get  the  work  done  outside  by  those  "  sweaters," 
and  so  brought  you  do'wu  to  their  prices  ? — A.  Yes. 

Q.  And  so  more  "  sweaters"  were  brought  into  competition  with  the  factory  hands '? 
—A.  Yes. 

SAFETY   OF   EMPLOYES. 

Special  j^rovisiou  has  beea  made  by  the  legislature  of  Victoria  for 
inclosing  or  otherwise  guarding  machinery  in  motion,  so  as  to  protect 
employes  in  factories  from  injury  or  accident.  So  also  in  mines,  the 
employment  of  winding  and  lifting  apparatus  of  a  "  safety"  character  is 
rendered  obligatory  upon  mine  owners;  and  government  inspectors 
are  appointed,  whose  duty  it  is  to  see  that  such  legislative  enactments 
are  duly  enforced. 

A  bill  has  recently  been  introduced  into  the  Victorian  parliament, 
making  employers  liable  for  personal  injuries  suffered  by  their  em- 
plojxs  while  engaged  in  their  service,  in  tiie  following  cases: 

(1)  By  reason  of  any  defect  ill  the  state  or  condition  of  the  ways,  works,  machinery, 
or  plant  connected  with,  or  used  in,  the  bnsines  of  the  employer  ;  or 

(2)  By  reason  of  the  negligence  of  auy  person  in  the  service  of  the  employer  who 
has  auy  superintendence  intrusted  to  him  whilst  in  the  exercise  of  such  superin- 
tendence ;  or 

(:3)  By  reason  of  the  negligence  of  auy  person  in  the  service  of  the  employer  to 
whose  orders  or  directions  the  workman  at  the  time  of  the  injury  was  bound  to  con- 
form and  did  conform,  where  such  injury  resulted  from  his  having  so  conformed;  or 

(4)  By  reason  of  the  act  or  omission  of  any  person  in  the  service  of  the  employer 
done  or  made  in  obedience  to  the  rules  or  by-laws  of  the  employer,  or  in  obedience 
to  particular  instructions  giveu  by  any  jierson  delegated  with  the  authority  of  the 
emj)loycr  in  that  behalf;  or 

(5)  JBy  reason  of  the  negligence  of  any  person  in  the  service  of  the  employer  who 
has  the  charge  or  control  of  any  signal  points,  locomotive  engine,  or  train^  or  trucks 
upon  a  railway — the  workman,  or,  in  case  the  injury  results  in  death,  the  legal  per- 
sonal representatives  of  the  workman  and  any  person  entitled  in  case  of  death  shall 
have  the  same  right  of  compensation  and  remedies  against  the  employer,  and  may  re- 
cover from  the  employer  compensation  by  way  of  damages  as  for  a  tort  committed  by 
such  employer  as  if  the  workman  had  not  been  a  workman  of,  nor  in  the  service  of, 
the  employer  nor  engaged  in  his  work. 

If  an  employe  is  a  member  of  a  friendly  society  or  trades  union, 
provision  is  made  for  medical  aid  and  monetary  relief  in  case  of  sick- 
ness or  disability,  and  for  the  payment  of  a  certain  sum  to  his  family 
in  the  event  of  his  death. 

In  1882  there  were  o2  friendly  societies  in  Victoria,  with  776  branches, 
and  51,399  members,  showing  a  total  income  of  £194,8  ''5,  and  a  total 
expenditure  of  £105,788. 

The  law  also  takes  cognizance  of  all  factories  and  work  rooms  where 
more  than  ten  persons  are  employed,  aiul  prescribes  that  these  shall 
be  constructed  so  as  to  secure  to  the  em[)loyes  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
pure  air  and  efficient  ventilation,  and  a  system  of  inspection  has  been 
established  with  a  view  to  giving  adequate  effect  to  these  i)recautions. 
Measures  are  also  in  contempbitiou  for  limiting  the  number  of  hours 
during  which  young  persons  may  be  legally  employed  in  shops,  facto- 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  385 

ries,  ami  workrooms;  ofticial  inquiries  baviuj>-  rteinonstrated  the  neces- 
sity for  legislative  intervention  in  this  matter. 

Within  the  past  iew  years  there  has  arisen,  among  young  girls  more 
particularly ,  a  great  competition  lor  employment  in  factories.  Wages 
in  this  i)articular  branch  of  industry  have  fallen  in  conseqnence,  and, 
while  there  is  a  great  demand  for  labor  in  the  country  districts,  there 
is  a  good  deal  of  overcrowding  in  fjictories  and  workrooms,  much  slop 
work  at  very  low  i)rices.  and  a  good  deal  of  ''  sweating"  on  the  i)art  of 
middlemen. 

Thus  there  has  arisen  a  necessity  for  special  legislation  of  the  kind  pre- 
viously referred  to.  On  the  other  hand  there  are  numy  large  employers 
who  disi)lay  a  laudable  consideration  for  the  health  and  comfort  of  their 
employes  and  the  relations  of  both  in  all  such  cases  are  of  an  agreeable 
and  harmonious  character. 

The  royal  commission  on  emjiloyes  in  shops,  in  their  report  on  the 
operation  of  the  Victorian  factory  act,  submits  the  following  summary 
of  recommendations : 

I.  That  :i  thorou<rhly  ompreluMisive  measure  amending  the  Victorian  factory  act 
1874  be  submitted  to  parliaiueut  during  tlie  ensuing  session,  and  which  shall  embrace 
the  following  ]»rovisions  : 

'2.  All  factories,  workrooms,  and  places  in  which  work  for  hire  is  executed  shall  be 
registered. 

3.  An  annual  licensing  fee  of  a  nominal  amount  shall  be  imposed  and  payable  by 
the  registered  person  carrying  on  such  establishment  or  place  of  business. 

4.  Factories  and  workrooms  shall   l>e  open  for  inspection  during  reasonable  hours. 

5.  A  heavy  penalty  shall  be  imposed  for  noncompliance  with  the  regulati<ms  re- 
specting ventilation,  lighting,  space,  cleanliness,  and  sanitary  accommodation. 

(i.  Wherever  possible,  the  sexes  in  factories  shall  be  separated. 

7.  The  eight-hours  system  shall  be  one  of  the  fundamental  piiuciples  of  the  bill. 

8.  An  arrangement  may  he  made  by  which  employes  can  obtain  the  Saturday  half- 
holiday,  but  the  hours  of  work  during  the  six  working  days  of  the  week  shall  not 
exceed  forty-eight. 

9.  Exemption  from  the  regulation  as  regards  hours  of  labor  may  be  obtained  upon 
application  to  the  chief  secretary  in  cases  of  great  or  sudden  emergency. 

10.  The  exemi)tion  shall  only  be  permitted  to  meet  the  particular  emergency. 

II,  A  chief  inspector  shall  be  ai>poiuted  as  executive  otllcer  under  the  act. 
12.  The  chief  inspector  shall  be  an  otlicer  under  the  central  goveruiuent. 
i:i.  Assistant  inspectors  shall  V)e  appointed  to  country  districts. 

14.  Prosecutions  for  breaches  of  the  act  shall  be  directed  by  the  chief  secretary  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  chief  insi)ector. 

1.5.  In  all  factories  and  workrooms  lists  shall  be  kept  giving  the  names,  ages,  hours 
of  emi)loyment,  and  rate  of  remuneration  of  the  employes.  » 

16.  Truant  officers  to  have  access  to  taciories  and  workrooms,  with  power  to  inspect 
lists  and  interrogate  those  employed. 

17.  Certificates  of  health  and  suitability  shall  be  produced  by  young  persona  before 
obtaining  employment. 

18.  Certiticate's  shall  be  obtainable  from  a  medical  officer  appointed  under  the  act. 

19.  A  certificate  of  age  shall  also  be  re(iuired. 

•JO.  Plans  and  specifications  of  all  premises  to  be  used  for  the  purposes  of  a  factory 
or  workroom,  shall  be  sui)mitted  for  approval  to  the  chief  inspector  of  factories. 

21.  Boys  uiuler  thirteen  and  girls  under  fourteen  years  of  age  shall  not  be  employed 
in  factories  or  workrooms. 

22.  The  probationary  period  for  apprentices  and  improvers  shall  not  exceed  six 
months. 

23.  Probationers  after  six  months  shall  be  entitled  to  the  payment  of  a  percentage 
upon  their  work. 

•24.  The  number  of  api)rentices  shall  not  exceed  one  in  five  of  every  adult  employed. 

•2.">.  Ai)i>rentices  shall  be  legally  indentured  in  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the 
trade  or  ijusiuess  in  which  they  are  engaged. 

26.  Persons  under  16  xhall  not  be  allowed  to  work  except  between  the  hours  of  6  a. 
m.  and  6  p.  ni. 

•J7.  No  person  under 20  years  shall  be  allowed  to  work  between  midnight  and  6  a.  ui. 

28.  Newspajjcr  and  other  printing  establishments  shall  be  brought  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  factory  act. 

02  A— 2  LAB 25 


386  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

2y.  Eniploy6s  shall  not  work  more  than  four  and  a  half  hours  consecutively  with 
out  an  intermission  for  a  meal. 

30.  Meals  shall  be  taken  outside  the  room  in  which  work  is  carried  on. 

31.  Employers  shall,  where  necessary,  provide  the  requisite  accommodation  and  ap- 
pliances for  meals. 

32.  Special  precautions  shall  be  taken  for  the  protection  of  employes  where  machin- 
ery is  utilized. 

33.  Persons  placed  in  charge  of  steam  boilers  and  engines  shall  hold  certificates  of 
competency.  ' 

34.  Notices  shall  be  affixed  in  all  factories  indicating  the  hours  of  work  and  meals, 
and  for  the  relays  of  hands  if  such  are  employed. 

36.  The  sweating  system  shall  be  prohibited. 

37.  Employers  shall  provide  all  the  accommodation  necessary  in  connexion  with 
the  premises  in  which  the  factory  business  is  conducted. 

38.  Employes  shall  be  prohibited  fi'om  taking  work  home  from  the  factories. 

39.  If  the  quantity  of  work  exceeds  the  capacity  of  the  factory  hands,  and  that  the 
limited  period  allowed  for  overtime  does  not  sufficiently  meet  the  temporary  pressure 
the  extra  work  may  be  transferred  to  some  other  registered  place  of  business. 

THE   SWEATING  SYSTEM. 

Eeferriug  to  the  "  sweating  system  "  the  commissioners  says : 

The  sweating  system  in  connection  with  factories  has  been  represented  by  every  wit- 
ness examined  on  the  8ul»ject  as  constituting  one  of  the  most  serious  grievances  with 
which  the  honest  and  legitimate  worker  has  to  contend.  It  serves  to  in  troduce'an  elemen  t 
of  unfair  competition  amongst  employes.  It  encourages  a  surreptitious  and  dishonor- 
able mode  of  dealing  between  employer  and  employed.  It  tends  to  bring  down  wages 
and  to  the  production  of  an  inferior  article,  without  any  corresponding  diminution 
of  price  to  the  public.  Further,  while  it  prejudicially  affects  the  comforts  and  con- 
veniences of  the  domestic  life  of  the  working  class,  by  converting  the  home  into  a 
workshop,  it  imperils  the  health  of  the  community  by  work  being  frequently  exe- 
cuted under  unsanitary  conditions,  aud  in  localities  where  epidemics  are  prevalent. 
The  system  ap])ears  to  have  originated  in  some  of  the  employes  being  allowed  to  bring 
work  home  with  them,  after  the  factory  closes  for  the  day.  A  woman  may  have 
daughters  who  assist  her,  and  thereby  she  is  enabled  to  supplement  her  ordinary 
earnings.  In  time  she  employs  apprentices,  who  receive  no  wages  for  the  first  six 
months,  aud  often  for  a  much  longer  period.  Contracts  are  accepted  by  the  sweaters 
at  a  lower  rate  than  that  prescribed  by  the  log,  and,  where  the  work  is  superabundant 
subcontractors  are  engaged  at  a  still  lower  rate,  until  many  persons  are  unable  to 
earn  more  than  a  bare  subsistence,  even  though  they  labor  fourteen  aud  sixteen  hours 
a  day.  In  the  boot  trade  also  sweating  is  carried  on  extensively,  aud  under  condi- 
tions that  seriously  militate  against  the  interests  of  the  skilled  workman.  The  sweat- 
ing system  in  connection  with  the  tailoring  business  bids  fair  to  place  the  entire  trade 
in  the  hands  of  females,  who  can  of  course  work  for  lo-wer  wages  than  men.  The  lat- 
ter are  uow»confined  to  the  finer  and  better  class  of  work,  but  they  are  becoming 
gradually  supplanted  in  the  trade  by  females,  despite  the  protracted  hours  of  labor, 
the  low  rate  of  wages,  and  the  small,  badly  lighted,  and  ill-ventilated  rooms  in  which 
they  have  to  work.  Many  young  girls  were  found  to  prefer  working  for  sweaters,  alleg- 
ing  as  a  reason  that  the  conduct  and  conversation  of  those  employed  in  factories  were 
objectionable  on  mora  grounds. 

POLITICAL   RIGHTS. 

As  has  been  previously  stated,  every  working  man  can  exercise  the 
suffrage  if  he  is  a  rate  payer,  or  by  taking  out  an  electoral  right  if  he  is 
not.  His  influence  is  a  preponderating  one  in  the  political  affairs  of  the 
colony,  as  both  branches  of  the  legislature  are  elective.  The  assembly 
is  chosen  by  the  adult  male  population  of  the  colony,  and  the  council  or 
senate  by  all  i)ersons  occupying  houses  or  land  of  the  ratable  value 
of  $50  per  annum.  The  number  of  persons  coming  within  the  former 
category  is  213,363,  of  whom  150,611  are  on  the  rolls  for  the  assembly^ 
and  58,735  on  those  for  the  council.  In  legislative  bodies  thus  consti- 
tuted, all  legislation  is  conformable  to  the  })opular  will ;  that  is  to  say^ 
it  reflects  the  opinions,  wishes,  aud  aspirations  of  the  most  numerous 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 


387 


classes  of  the  community,  and  its  general  tendency  is  to  favor  labor 
and  to  exclude  external  competition. 

With  respect  to  the  share  of  the  public  burdens  borne  by  the  wages 
earning  classes  of  the  country,  it  is  relatively  small.  There  is  no  poll 
tax  in  Victoria,  and  the  gross  amount  of  money  yearly  raised  by  im post- 
on  the  people  averages  little  more  than  $10  per  head.  Taxes  on  real 
estate  are  so  adjusted  as  to  exempt  the  cottage  of  the  working  man  and 
the  land  of  the  small  farmer  from  their  operation,  and  legacy  and  succes- 
sion duties  leave  the  bequests  of  the  operative  classes  untouched.  Local 
taxation  is  very  light.  It  rarely  exceeds  one  shilling  in  the  pound  per 
annum  on  the  ratable  value  of  the  property,  and  estimating  the  sum 
raised  in  this  way  every  year  at  .$1,800,000,  nearly  five-sevenths  of  this 
amount  would  be  contributed  by  the  wealthy  classes.  In  order  to  pre- 
vent these  from  being  heavily  taxed  by  their  poorer  neighbors,  who 
might  favor  a  large  expenditure  of  borrowed  money  in  local  improve- 
ments, for  the  sake  of  increasing  the  demand  for  labor,  and  consequently 
the  rate  of  wages,  the  method  of  electing  municipal  and  shire  councils 
is  by  a  cumulative  system  of  voting,  which  gives  the  propeity  owner 
two  or  three  votes  as  against  one  of  the  ordinary  rate  payer. 

EMIGRATION. 

This  question  is  irrelevant  to  the  Australian  colonies,  whose  popula- 
tion is  being  constantly  increased  by  immigration  both  assisted  and 
otherwise. 

Occupation  of  the  people  in  Victoria. 


Males. 


Occupations. 


Under  20 
years. 


PROFESSIOXAL  AKD  SCHOLASTIC. 


Government  officials  and  clerks 

Clergymen  and  church  officers 

Law  court  officers,  lawyers,  &c 

Physicians,  surgeons,  and  druggists 

Authors,  literary  and  scientitic  persons  . 

Teachers,  &c 

Students  and  scholars 

Artists 

Musicians  and  music  teachers 

Actors,  <tc 


DOMESTIC. 


Persons  en<£a}:ed — 

In  boardinjr  and  lodging. 
In  attendance 


COMMERCIAL. 

Persons  engaged — 

In  mercantile  pursuits 

In  transportation : 

Gamers  on  railways 

Carriers  on  roads 

Carriers  on  seas  and  rivers 

Engaged  in  storage 

Messengers  and  porters 


AGKICl'LTURAL  AND   I'ASTORAL. 


Persons  engaged — 

In  agricultural  pursuits 

In  ]ia.storal  i)ursuits 

In  similar  i)ursuit8 


174 
8 

186 

188 
25 

382 
91,979 

119 
30 
49 


44 
1,385 


2,534 

195 
1,150 
204 
170 
965 


15,  591 

1,324 

763 


Over  20 
years. 


4,076 

1,044 

1,057 

1,295 

462 

2,238 

154 

472 

450 

403 


3,889 
3,348 


12,  851 

2,654 
7, 127 
3,135 
1,078 
523 


54,123 
6,157 
3,761 


Females. 


Under  20 
years. 


980 
92.444 

43 
176 

28 


47 
11, 150 


379 


,626 

746 

3 


Over  20 
years. 


215 
178 


111 

10 
3,192 

78 
100 
633 

80 


3,495 
15,  351 


1,852 

239 

13 

24 

2 

52 


30,  579 
^  2, 381 
•  148 


388 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA.:    VICTORIA. 
Occiipafioti  of  the  people  in  Victoria — Coutiiiued. 

Males.  Females. 


Occupations. 


Under  20   i     Over  20        Under  20   '     Over  20 
years.      |      year.s.  years.  years. 


JtAXUFACTL'RlXG   AND   MECHANICAL 

Persons  engaged  in  working  and  dealing  in  — 

Books    . ■ . . .  

Musical  instriimenta  

Prints  and  pictures  

Carving  and  figures 

Wjitclies  and  ]>hilo8ophioal  instruinenrs  .. 

Macliiues  and  tools 

Carriages,  hame.ss,  and  implements 

Slips  and  l)oats 

Houses  and  buildings   

Furnil uie    . . .         

Chemicals , 

Other  indu.strial  pursuits 

I'extile  fabrics  

Dress   

Fibrous  luati  rials 

Animal  food 

Vegetable  food      ..         

Dt  inks  and  stimulants   ...    ..   

Animal  products 

Vegeta  ble  products  

Coal 

Stone,  clay,  earthenware,  and  glass 

Gold,  silver,  and  jirecious  stones 

Metals  other  than  gold  and  silver 

W.iter  aiidice    


MiNiNr;. 
Gobi  miners : 

Alluvial 

Quartz 

Diggers  (not  otherwise  described). 

Quartz  crushing,  &c.,  engaged  in 

Miners  (other  metals  and  minerals) 

Others  engaged  in  mining 

Laboiersand  others  not  clasaitied 


1,174 

2, 122  1 

80 

116 

26 

112  ! 

1 

60 

137 

2 

1 

46 

100  ; 

5 

11 

130 

423  1 

3 

156 

835 

I 

2 

852 

2,690 

•J 

12 

26 

.•>8l 
13,  854 

1 

2,017 

1 

290 

390 

1,2.'54 

31 

73 

31 

1.54 

20 

24 

36 

127 

17 

25 

1,171 

2.  829 

223 

419 

2,354 

0,973 

7,960 

12.312 

110 

13t 

33 

30 

1,216 

4,376 

32 

1,069 

791 

3.  208 

54 

256 

«77 

3,051 

53 

291 

394 

1,483 

29 

44 

1,204 

4,978 

73 

67 

42 

401 
2,986 

1 

500 

5 

8 

160 

474 

8 

6 

2,054 

5,  656 

9 

0 

9 

115 

804 

11,231 
7,365 

2  

870 

1   

1,447 

12,  432 

771 

2 

264 

6 

40 
700 

122 

3 

6,492 

33,  051 

i 

1,212  1 

4.  773 

FEMALE   WAfrES. 

Female  teachers  iu  Ibe  state  schools  receive  from  $'Ml  to  $1,071  i)er 
annum  and  results,  which  may  amount  to  au  additional  compensation 
equal  to  one-half  the  teacher's  tixed  salary.  Postmistresses  receive 
salaries  varying-  from  .|20U  to  $876  ])er  annum.  The  lowe.^t  rate  of 
wapes  is  probably  paid  to  tailore.s.ses,  mantle  makers,  and  factory  em- 
ployes, which  range  from  $2.9li  to  $0.08  ])er  week.  It  would  be  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  determine  accurately  the  average  rate  of  wages  paid 
to  adult  females,  but  it  will  ]>robab]y  not  vary  materially  from  $i  to 
to  $4.50  ])er  week. 

HOICKS    OF    LAIJOE. 

AlthongJ!  eight  hours  has  never  been  recognized  by  an  act  of  the 
Victorian  parliament  as  a  legal  day's  work,  still  in  the  case  <»f  govern- 
ment employes  the  eight  hours  standard  is  i)ractically  the  i)ievailiug 
one. 

The  hours  of  labor  observed  by  those  engaged  in  the  retail  trade  in 
drapery,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  and  similar  articles,  are  usually 
from  7  or  8  a.  m.  to  i>  p,  m.  on  ordinary  nights,  and  until  midnight  on 
Saturdays.  Jn  fruit  and  confectiouery  sho])s,  tobacconists',  pawnbrok- 
ers', restaurants,  and  places  of  refreshment  generally,  the  hours  of  at- 
tendance are  said  to  be  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  hours  daily. 

Eiii]iloyi\x  ill  piivate.  T\orkroonis  <;enerally  conmieuce  work  iit  8.30  or  'J  a.  in.,  an  1 
with  litliati  hour's,  and  soiuetiiues  only  a  quarter  of  an  hour's,  intermi.ssiou  for  me.als, 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  389 

a 

they  contiuiK*  to  laliorfiften  far  into  the  night.  Some  (»f  the  hamlsalso  carry  honi<;  the 
work  with  them,  and  labor  for  many  hours  after  the  factories  are  ch)si'(l.  In  millinery 
;in<l  drespniaking  tlieie  is  often  a  show  of  c<imi)lying  with  the  more  humane  system 
of  eight  h()nrs"  work  daily.  As  a  mattrf  of  fact,  however,  this  is  the  exception  rather 
than  the  rule.  The  front  doors  are  closed,  bnr  young  girls  are  kept  for  many  hours, 
and  during  the  busy  season  all  night,  at  work,  in  order  to  execute  the  orders  received.* 

Tailoiesses,  in  many  instanco.s,  have  to  work  from  fourteen  to  sixteen 
hours  daily  in  order  to  earn  a  livelihood,  wliile  barmaids  are  not  unfre- 
quently  emj)loyed  from  sixteen  to  nineteen  hours  out  of  the  twenty-four. 

Speaking"  of  the  necessity  for  legislation  in  connection  with  the  regu- 
lation of  the  hours  of  labor,  the  employes  in  shops  commission  say: 

Your  commissioners,  having  due  r»gar»l  to  the  evidence  elicited  both  from  employ- 
ers and  em}>lo\ es,  are  convinced  of  ihe  absolute  ncc<?ssity  for  legislative  action  in 
order  to  bring  about  some  definite  aiiangement  with  lesjiect  to  closing  shojis  and  sus- 
pending business  at  a  reasonable  lionr  in  the  evening.  The  history  of  the  Early  Clos- 
ing Association  and  of  the  Salesmen  and  Assistants'  Union  demonstrates  incontestably 
that,  in  the  absence  of  any  legal  obligation  to  close,  there  vrill  be  found  some  who, 
from  considerations  of  self-interest,  will  not  be  bound  by  any  moral  obligation  to 
close  early,  or  even  at  a  reasonable  hour.  By  means  of  continued  agitation  shop- 
keepers in  the  city  and  suburbs  at  vai  ions  tinies  have  assented  to  the  proposal  to  close 
early;  they  did  so  foi-  a  time,  but  gradually  they  fell  back  into  the  old  system.  Moral 
suasion  has,  no  doubt,  accomplished  much  in  diminishing  the  houis  of  daily  labor,  but 
the  large  majority  of  the  witnesses  expressed  the  opinion  that  nothinglessthan  an  act 
of  ]»arliameut  would  give  permanence  to  the  movement.  Your  commissioners  are  not 
unmindful  of  the  conse<|uenccs  of  any  undue  interference  with  the  laws  that  may  be 
said  to  govern  the  relations  of  employer  and  enilpoye,  but  the  obligations  of  humanity 
are  paramount  to  those  of  trade,  an<l  therefore  it  is  that  we  consider  that  the  legisla- 
ture should  step  in  and  seek  to  do  for  both  employer  and  emj)loyed  that  which,  of 
themselves,  they  are  unable  satisfactorily  to  accomplish. 

MORAL   AND   PHYSICAL   CONDITION   OF   FEMALE   EMPLOYES. 

It  is  difficult  to  State  in  general  terms  what  is  the  moral  and  i)hysical 
condition  of  female  employes,  because  it  varies  so  much  in  different 
places  and  in  different  establishments. 

The  syst^^m  which  jtrevails  so  generally  in  this  colony  of  employing 
young  women  as  barmaids  in  public  houses  is  one  which  must  have 
a  piejudicial  etfect  on  the  uiorals  of  females  exposed  from  morning 
till  night  to  the  license  of  spe«'ch  and  manners  indulged  in  by  the  fre- 
quenters of  such  places  of  public  resort.  On  this  point  the  commission- 
ers appointed  by  the  government  of  Victoria  to  inquire  into  the  best 
means  of  regulating  and  shortening  the  hours  of  employes  in  shops  and 
other  establishments,  say: 

The  employment  of  young  won)en  to  serve  in  the  bars  of  hotels  and  public  houses, 
in  whatever  aspect  regarded,  must  be  pronounced  as  the  result  of  a  system  in  every 
respect  objectionable.  Ajiparently  its  immediate  object  is  to  increase  the  incentive 
to  drink:  the  etfect  is  the  demoralization  of  the  youth  of  both  sexes — the  only  pur- 
pose seived  being  to  enhance  the  value  of  the  property  and  augment  the  profits  of 
those  interested  in  the  liquor  traffic.  Your  commissioners  have  not  yet  completed 
this  branch  of  their  in<iuiry,  but  the  testimony  obtained  from  several  witnesses,  and 
especially  from  medical  practitioners,  goes  to  show  that  the  employment  of  barmaids 
is  deserving  of  the  earnest  attention  of  parliament.  Some  licensees  are  no  doubt 
thoughtful  and  considerate  of  the  health  ami  feelings  of  their  employes,  but  there 
are  many  and  marked  exceptions  to  this  rule,  wbilst  many  tirst-class  houses  do  not 
employ  barmaids  at  all.  Barmaids  are  generally  chosen  for  their  sujjerior  jiersonal 
attractions,  and  their  supposed  power  of  inducing  expenditure.  They  are  fairly  edu- 
cated, of  superior  address,  active,  capable,  and  trustworthy.  The  business  offers 
inducements  which  young  girls  acce])t  in  preference  to  seeking  employment  in  factor- 
ies or  in  domestic  service.  \Vith  the  moral  aspect  of  the  question  your  commissioners 
do  not  propose  to  deal,  as  no  evidence  has  yet  been  taken  on  the  point ;  but  from  the 
medical  testimony  it  is  undeniable  that,  in  regard  to  the  hours  of  labor,  this  class  of 

*  Report  of  the  royal  commission  on  employes  in  shops. 


390  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

• 
employes  are  subjected  to  hardships  more  severe  aud  physically  distressing  thau  per- 
haps any  other  class  in  the  comranuity.  Dr.  Girdlestoue,  health  otilicer,  declares  that 
the  barmaids  are  shamefully  overworked.  Mr.  Martin  Evans,  city  inspector,  states 
that  they  work  from  sixteen  to  nineteen  hoursdaily,  often  under  extremely  insanitary 
conditions. 

Referring,  subsequently,  to  the  moral  asiiects  of  the  question,  the 
commissioners  continue : 

The  employment  of  young  women  in  bars  appears  from  the  evidence  to  be  attended 
with  temptations,  to  which  they  not  unfrequently  fall  victims.  The  language  and 
manners  of  the  habitues  of  many  hotels,  as  deposed  to  by  witnesses,  are  offensive  at 
times  to  every  sense  of  womanly  modesty  and  self-respect.  The  fatigues  which  they 
endure,  the  class  of  persons  with  whom  they  are  compelled  to  associate,  and  other 
circumstances  it  would  be  superfluous  to  mention,  induce  sometimes  habits  of  intem- 
perance, with  their  inevitable  consequences. 

In  the  opinion  of  witnesses,  barmaids  aie  sometimes  employed  as  decoys.  With 
that  view  they  are  usually  selected  for  their  youth,  agreeable  manners,  and  personal 
attractions.  Their  retention  depends  upon  their  capacity  for  increasing  business,  so 
that  it  becomes  a  matter  of  self-interest  that  they  shall  induce  the  frequenters  of 
hotels  to  indulge  in  excessive  drinking.  The  presence  of  females  naturally  attracts 
young  men,  aud  produces  habits  both  of  intemperance  and  extravagance. 

It  seems  to  be  acknowledged,  also,  that  the  congregation  of  large 
numbers  of  young  women  in  sewing- factories  and  work-rooms,  as  well 
as  the  intermingling  of  the  sexes  during  work  hours,  is  inimical  to  pub- 
lic and  private  morality,  and  that  it  has  led  to  a  material  increase  in 
the  ranks  of  fallen  women  in  Melbourne  aud  other  large  cities.  In  this 
connection  the  commissioners  observe  : 

Not  the  least  important  feature  of  the  case  submitted  by  the  employes  who  tend- 
ered their  evidence  was  the.  absence  of  proper  sanitary  arrangements  in  many  places 
of  business.  Those  w^hich  the  factories  act  does  not  reach  are  usually  small,  ill- 
ventilated,  insufficiently  lighted,  and  devoid  even  of  the  ordinary  conveniences  for 
the  observance  of  decency.  *  *  *  While  some  employers  evince  a  laudable  anxiety 
for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  their  work-people,  there  are  others  wholly  indif- 
ferent to  their  health  aud  welfare.  Employes  are  sometimes  crowded  into  small 
rooms,  which  are  suffocating  in  summer  and  iutolerably  cold  in  winter.  Labor  is 
carried  on  under  both  physical  and  moral  disadvantages;  resulting,  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  in  premature  debility  and  disease,  and  the  general  deterioration  of  both  mind 
and  body  of  many  young  females.  Upon  this  point  the  trades  committee  urge, 
"  That  the  necessities  of  the  young  are  cruelly  ignored  has  been  very  clearly  demon- 
strated by  the  evidence  (jf  every  witness  examined  ;  not  only  have  the  existing  evils 
tended  to  swell  the  ranks  of  rowdyism,  but,  what  is  more  inexpressibly  sad,  they 
have  been  the  immediate  cause  of  the  I'uin  and  downfall  of  many  of  the  weaker  sex, 
a  fact  which  can  be  demonstrated  to  the  most  skeptical  by  a  stroll  through  the  streets 
of  this  city  after  dark." 

On  the  other  hand,  domestic  servants,  who  are  in  receipt  of  large 
wages  aud  are  under  the  protection  of  their  employers,  are  to  a  great 
extent  removed  from  temptation,  and  constitute,  as  a  class,  a  reputable 
and  respectable  portion  of  the  community. 

What  are  the  means  provided,  and  by  whom,  for  the  improvement  ©f 
these  em])loyes? 

There  are  no  specific  agencies  at  work  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of 
female  employes  excei)t  a  servants'  and  governess'  home  for  the  recep- 
tion of  young  persons  between  the  time  of  their  quitting  one  engage- 
ment and  obtaining  another.  It  may  not  be  irrelevant,  however,  to  add 
v.i  this  connection  that  the  charitable  institutions  of  the  colony  include, 
among  others,  nine  industrial  and  reformatory  schools,  seven  orphan 
asylums,  five  iemale  refuges,  five  benevolent  asylums,  a  lying  in  hospi- 
tal, a  children's  hospital,  an  immigrants'  home,  and  an  infant  asylum. 

CAKE   OF    SICK   AND   DISABLED. 

The  Victorian  factory  act  imposes  certain  restrictions  on  employers 
with  respect  to  the  proper  sanitary  conditions  of  factories  and  work- 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA.  391 

rooms,  while  tbo  ample  provision  made  for  tbe  relief  of  persons  suffer- 
ing from  illness  or  from  accident  in  tbe  general  hospitals,  of  which  there 
are  thirty  five  in  the  colony,  by  free  dispensaries,  and  by  tbe  sick  fund 
of  tlie  various  friendly  societies,  is  generally  considered  to  be  quite  suf- 
ficient to  meet  all  reasonable  demands.  Among  the  provisions  of  the 
factory  act  are  the  following: 

3.  Xo  person  or  persons  shall  employ  in  any  factory  or  work-room  any  female  for 
more  than  eight  honrs  in  any  one  day  in  preparing  or  mannfacturing  articles  for  trade 
or  sale. 

4.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  ont  the  provisions  hereof  any  person  authorized  by 
the  central  or  local  board  of  health  under  the  second  part  of  Act  No.  CCCX  may  enter 
and  inspect  any  factory  or  work-room  at  any  time  during  working  hours.  And  the 
central  or  local  board  of  health  may  from  time  to  time  make  regulations  (subject  to 
the  approval  of  the  governor  in  council)  respecting  factories  or  work-rooms,  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  the  maximum  number  of  persons  to  be  employed  in  any  one 
room,  also  for  enforcing  provisions  fi)r  all  necessarj' warmth,  ventilation,  and  cleanli- 
ness therein,  and  further  to  order  that  all  factories  or  work-rooms  shall  be  provided 
with  i>roi)er  sanitary  requirements;  and  such  factories  or  work-rooms  shall  be  deemed 
to  be  "public  buildings''  within  the  meaning  of  the  thirty-tirst  clause  of  the  said  act, 
and  the  ob.servance  of  such  regulations  may  be  enforced  and  disobedience  thereof 
punished  in  the  same  manner  as  the  observance  or  iufriugement  of  regulations  issued 
under  the  authority  of  the  said  section  may  be  enforced  or  punished. 

PAST   AND  PRESENT   WAGES. 

Ordinarily  speaking,  the  labor  market  in  Victoria  is  rather  under- 
stocked than  otherwise  with  adult  males,  and  although  at  the  dullest 
period  of  the  year  there  is  usually  an  outcry  about  the  unemployed, 
there  is  always  at  the  same  time  an  unsatisfied  demand  for  nftinual 
labor  in  the  country  districts. 

^  Up  to  the  present  time  the  employment  of  women  in  various  indus- 
trial capacities  has  had,  with  few  exceptions,  no  appreciable  effect  on 
the  wages  of  men,  as  they  do  not  enter  sufficiently  into  competition 
with  the  latter  to  influence  their  earnings.  Among  the  exceptions  re- 
ferred to  are,  notably,  journeymen  tailors  and  factory  employes.  The 
rate  of  wages  paid  to  women  and  the  cost  of  living  are  substantially  the 
same  as  they  were  five  years  ago. 

The  two  princi])al  causes  which  operate  to  lower  the  rate  of  wages  in 
the  colony  are  the  "  sweating  system"  and  the  employment  of  unin- 
dentured  apprentices.  It  is  the  practice  of  many  tradesmen  to  discharge 
their  a|)prentices  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  earn  respectable  wages,  and 
to  replace  them  with  others  who,  with  no  binding  agreement  that  they 
shall  be  pro])erly  taught,  have  the  option  of  leaving  whenever  they 
choose.  Xot  to  speak  of  the  cheap  labor  thus  introduced  into  the  sev- 
eral trades,  these  imperfectly  trained  apprentices,  on  leaving  their  em- 
ployers, enter  into  competition  with  regular  tradesmen,  with  the  result 
that  the  rate  of  wages  is  lowered  to  the  standard  of  that  of  the  young 
and  incompetent. 

EDUCATION  AMONG  FEMALE   EMPLOYES. 

The  State  school  system  which  brings  a  good  elementary  education 
within  the  reach  of  the  poorest  members  of  the  community,  and  which 
is  comi)ulsory  as  well  as  gratuitous,  insures  the  instruction  of  all  young 
persons  in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  so  that  factory  girls  and 
other  females  earning  their  own  livelihood  are  tolerably  well  informed. 
But  the  effect  of  such  employment  on  the  family  circle  is  anything 
but  a  beneficial  one.  Young  girls  and  boys  acquire  a  position  of  quasi 
independence,  and  they  throw  ott' parental  authority  at  the  very  period 


392  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

of  life  when  their  characters  require  most  discipline  aud  restraint.  The/y 
claim  and  exercise  a  freedom  of  action  which  is  frequently  abused.  Their 
evenings  are  too  often  unemployed,  and  are  spent  in  questionable  society 
and  amusements.  Young  factory  girls,  as  a  rule,  grow  up  ignorant  of 
household  duties,  and  with  an  inordinate  love  of  dress.  They  dislike 
domestic  service,  and  are  restive  under  the  restraints  which  it  necessarily 
involves.  The  result  is  that  when  they  reach  a  marriageable  age  thej^ 
are  illy  prepared  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a  wife  aud  mother,  and  in 
many  instances  are  more  likely  to  become  an  encumbrance  to  a  working- 
man  than  a  helpmate. 

I  have  not  yet  received,  in  response  to  the  labor  circular,  any  reports 
from  the  consular  agents  at  Albany  and  Adelaide,  but  it  may  be  ob- 
served that,  with  the  exception  of  Queensland,  where  Kanakas  or  Poly- 
nesians are  employed  by  the  sugar  planters  for  a  term  of  three  years  at 
the  rate  of  130  a  year,  with  clothing  and  rations,*  the  conditions  of 
labor  are  substantially  the  same  in  all  the  Australian  colonies. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

In  conclusion,  it  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  acknowledge  my  in- 
debtedness to  H.  H.  Hayter,  esq.,  government  statistician;  P.  P.  Laber- 
tonche,  esq,,  secretary  for  Victorian  railways ;  Capt.  K.  Fullarton,  chief 
harbor- master;  and  James  Smith,  esq.,  for  valuable  statistical  and  other 
interesting  information  embraced  in  this  report. 

O.  M.  SPEi^CER, 


Consul- General. 


United  States  Consulate-General, 

Melbourne,  October  8,  1884. 


I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  to  the  general  trades  in  Melbourne. 


Occupations. 


BUILDING  TRADES. 

Bricklayers per  d  ay . .  i 

Hod-carriers do 

Masons do j 

Tenders do 1 

Plasterers do 1 

icnders do 

Slaters do 1 

Plumbers per  week . .  i        14  60 

Carpenters per  day.  -i  2  43 

Gasfitters perweek..!        14  60 

Painters  and  glaziers per  day . .  2  19 

OTHEK  TUADES. 

Bakers - per  week.. 

Blacksinit hs per  day . . 

Bookbinders per  week.. 

Brick-makers per  1,000.. 

Butchers     per  week . . 

Br.ass-founders per  day . . 

Cabinet-makers per  week.. 

Confectioners do 

Cigar-makers per  1,000.. 


6  08  j  14  60  7  30 

2  43  i  3  40  2  92 
9  73  !  14  60  10  94 
4  38  :  4  87  4  50 
9  73  12  16  I  10  94 
1  94  2  92  2  31 

10  94  I  19  47  14  60 

3  65  j  17  03  1  9  73 
! 7  30 


"Vide  my  report  on  the  Queensland  labor  problem  with  dispatch  No.  184,  December 
23,  1882. 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 
IFaffes  paid  to  the  general  trades  in  Melbourne— Contlnned. 


3^3 


Occupations. 


Lowest.  I  Highest,  i  Average. 


Other  trades — Contlnned. 

Coopers per  week..  $10  94 

Distillers do....  7  30 

Draymen  and  teamst«rs do 9  73 

Engravers do 7  30 

Jewelers : do....  13  38 

Laborers,  porters,  &c per  day..  1  70 

Lithographers per  week..  12  16 

Maltsters do 10  94 

Navvies per  day . .  146 

Polishers  perweek..  9  73 

Quarry  men per  day . .  1  94 

Saddle  and  baniess  makers perweek..  9  73 

Stevedores : per  day . .  2  43 

Stone-breakers per  cubic  yai  d . .  36 

Tanners  and  cuniers per  week..  8  76 

Tailors do....  12  16 

Tinsmiths do 9  73 

Upholsterers do 12  16 


$14  60  . 
14  60 
14  60 
48  67 
38  93 
1  94 

18  25 
14  60 

1  70 
14  60 

2  92 
14  60 

2  92 
85 
14  60 
14  60 
14  60 

19  47 


$12  16 
9  73 

10  94 
21  90 
19  47 

1  82 
14  60 

11  55 

1  £8 
10  94 

2  19 

12  16 
2  55 

60 
10  94 

12  81 

13  38 

14  60 


II.  Factories, "MILLS,  etc. 

fVages paid  in  factories  and  mills  in  Melbou       ,  Australia. 
[Per  week  of  forty  eight  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Carriage  and  harness : 

Smiths ■ perweek.. 

Body -makers do 

Wheelers do 

Painters do 

Trimmers do 

Vycemen do 

Clothing : 

Tailors do 

Mantle-makers do 

Milliners,  tirst  class do 

Milliners,  second  class do 

Dressmakers  and  needlewomen do... . 

Tailoresses do 

Pressers do  .. 

Shirt-makers do 

Machinists do 

Boot-makers: 

Kiveters  children's  boots per  pair. . 

Riveters  boys"  boots Qo 

Kiveters  women's  boots do 

Riveters  men's  boots do 

Wellingtons do 

Elastics do  ... 

Machinists per  week.. 

Hatters: 

Body -makers per  dozen.. 

Finishers do 

Shapers do 

Crown-sewers do. . . . 

Trimmers do . . . 


$10  94 
12  16 
12  16 

11  64 

12  16 
6  08 

9  73 
3  65 


Highest.   Average. 


3  65 

3  04 
9  73 
2  92 

4  87 


3  65 

2  92 

2  92 

97 

85 


$19  47 
21  90 

17  03  i 

18  24 
17  03  I 

7  30  j 

12  16  ' 
6  08 


6  08 
8  52 
13  38 
6  08 
8  52 


7  30 

4  87 

5  84 
2  92 
1  21 


$14  60 
19  47 
15  81 

14  60 

15  81 
6  56 

10  94 
4  25 

17  03 
8  52 
4  13 

3  89 
10  94 

4  38 
6  08 

12 
20 

24 
80 

2  43 
1  82 
4  87 

3  65 

4  13 
1  82 

97 
1  46 


394 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 


III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  tcorks  in  Melbourne. 
[Per  week  of  forty-eight  hours.] 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Blacksmiths 

Farriers : 

Firemen 

Doormen 

per  day 

per  week.. 

do 

$2  43 

736' 

1  70 

2  19 
2  43 
2  43 
2  19 
2  43 
1  94 
9  73 

12  16 

$3  40 

973" 

1  94 

2  92 

2  92 

3  40 
2  67 
2  92 
2  92 

14  60 
14  60 

$2  67 

13  38 
8  26 
1  82 

Fitters  

do 

2  43 

Turners 

do.... 

2  43 

Boiler-makers  and 
Riveters 

platers . . 

do... 

do.... 

2  67 
2  31 

Holders 

do.... 

2  61 

Brass-finishers  and  coppersmiths  

Tinsmiths 

Iron-workers 

do  ... 

per  week . . 

do 

iln 

2  55 

13  38 
12  77 

14  60 

Y.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  week,  of  forty- eight  hours  in  and  in  connection  ivith  gold  mines  in  Ficforia, 

A^8tralia. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.  !  Highest. '  Average. 


General  managers 
Legal  managers  . . 
Mining  managers 

Engineers.  ..^ 

Engine  drivers 

Pitmen 

Blacksmiths 

Carpenters 

Foremen  of  shift.. 

Miners 

Surfaceme  1 

Boys 

Chinese 


VI.  Eailway  EMPL0Y]ES. 

Wages  paid  per  day  to  railway  employes  {those  engaged  about  stations  as  well  as  those  en- 
gaged on  the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  ^'c. ),  in  Victoria,  Australia. 


$12  16 

$58  40 

$24  33 

2  43 

73  00 

9  73 

10  94 

34  07  ] 

19  47 

9  73 

29  20 

19  47 

9  73 

17  03  ' 

14  60 

6  33 

19  47  i 

9  73 

9  73 

19  47  1 

14  60 

10  21 

19  47 

14  60 

10  21 

14  60 

12  16 

9  73 

14  60 

11  55 

6  08 

12  16  ■ 

9  73 

3  65 

9  73  1 

6  08 

2  92 

8  76 

1 

6  56 

Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Cairiase  cleaners 

$1  21 
1  94 

$2  67 
2  55 

$1  70 

2  19 

2  43 

Fitters 

2 

2 
2 
1 

1 

19 
31 
67 
94 
21 

2  55 

2  43 

3  65 
2  43 
1  58 

2  43 

2  37 

2  92 

2  06 

1  33 

2  06 

1  82 

1  70 

2 

1 
1 
3 
1 
1 

12 
19 
70 
70 
04 
21 
46 
73 

1  70 

2  92 

2  55 
2  67 
4  87 

1  94 

2  92 
1  46 

1  09 

Gaugers ..                       ... 

2  43 

Goods  foremen  and  porters  

Guards .   . 

1  94 

2  OS 

Inspectors  of  work 

Lampmen 

3  65 
1  46 

1  94 

1  21 

2  19 

Point  cleaners 

1 

1 
1 
1 

46 
73 
21 
21 
21 

i  82 
2  67 
2  19 
2  06 
1  33 


1  70 

Porters 

1  70 

Signalmen 

1  82 

1  46 

Ticket  collectors ...        . 

1  70 

Wagr)n  builders 

2  43 

Tardsnien .        ..            

i  82 

-^ 

2  92 

2  19 

LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 


395 


VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  forty-eight  hours  in  ship-yards  in  Mtlbourne,  Victoria. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest. !  Average. 


Shipwrights.. 
Iron- workers. 
Rivet  boY.s  . . 
Engineeis  ... 


$14  60 

4  38 

14  60 


$17  52 

$17  52  16  06 

4  87  4  62 

17  52  16  06 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wage><  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officersand  men) — distinguishing  between  ocean,  coast,  and 
rivei'  navigation ,  and  between  sail  and  steam — in  Victoria,  Australia. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Steamsliips: 

COASTING. 

$58  40 

43  80 

34  07 

Sailing  vesselrf : 

$34  07 

$38  93 

38  08 

29  20 

24  33 

Steamships : 

OCEAN-GOIXG. 

38  40 
19  47 

34  07 

58  40 
24  33 

43  80 

21  90 

Sailing  vessels : 

38  93 

29  20 

19  47 

24  33 

21  90 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  forty-eight  hours  in  drapers^  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and 

females,  in  Melbourne. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$7  30 
7  30 
10  94 

$26  76 
21  90 
21  90 

$14  60 

9  73 

17  03 

X,  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  to  household  servants  (toivnsand  cities)  in  Melbourne. 


Occupations. 

.  Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Males : 

Coaehiuen,  grooms,  &c. 

Gardeners 

Butlers 

HOUSEHOLD. 

per  week.. 

do  ... 

do.... 

$4  87 
4  87 
4  87 

194  66 
170  33 
121  66 
97  33 
146  00 

7  30 
4  87 

3  05 

4  25 
4  87 

3  65 
3  65 

146  00 
243  33 

$7  30 
7  30 
9  73 

486  65 
253  00 
194  66 
194  66 

185  00 

10  94 
9  73 

4  87 
4  87 
15  81 

6  08 

4  87 
194  65 
486  65 

$6  08 
6  08 
8  50 

Females : 

Uooks 

Laundresses 

Housemaids 

Nursemaids 

General  servan  ts 

Males : 

Barmen   

HOTEL. 

per  annum. . 

do 

do... 

do.... 

do... 

per  week.. 

do 

253  00 
194  C6 
146  00 
121  66 
170  00 

8  50 
6  10 

Boots             

do.... 

4  13 

Ostlers    

do.... 

4  38 

do.... 

9  73 

Female : 

Barmaids 

Waitresses 

Housemaids 

per  week.. 

do 

per  annum.. 

do 

4  25 

4  25 

170  33 

292  00 

396  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    VICTORIA. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (country)  servants  in  Victoria,  Australia. 


Occupations. 


Plowmen  per  week,  and  found . 

Laborers  and  milkmen '- do. 

Cheese-makers do. 

Reapers per  acre,  and  found . 

Mowers do 

Th  rashers per  bushel,  and  found . 

Cooks,  male  per  annum,  .md  found. 

Dairymaids do. . 

Cooks,  female do. . 

General  servants do . .  . 

Married  couples .• do. 

Hop-pickers per  bushel . 

Maize-pickers per  bag. 

STATIO.N. 

Boundary  riders per  annum,  with  rations 

Shepherds do  . 

Stockmen do.. 

Hut-keepers do . . 

Cooks,  male do. . 

Laborers per  week,  with  rations. 

Drovers do. 

Sheep-washers do 

Shearers  . .  -*. per  100. 

Cooks,  female per  annum,  and  found. 

General  servants do  . . 

Married  coupies per  annum,  with  rations. 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

14  87 

$6  08 

$5  34 

3  6.i 

4  87 

4  13 

6  08 

9  73 

7  30 

2  43 

3  65 

2  92 

85 

1  46 

1  21 

10 

14 

13 

- 

243  33 

292  00 

253  00 

146  00 

170  33 

156  CO 

146  00 

243  33 

194  70 

146  00 

170  33 

156  00 

292  00 

438  00 

389  32 

7 

9 

8 
12 

194  66 

292  00 

253  00 

175  19 

253  00 

194  66 

292  00 

365  00 

340  65 

126  53 

194  60 

146  00 

243  33 

292  00 

253  00 

3  65 

4  87 

4  13 

6  08 

9  73 

8  50 

3  65 

6  08 

5  10 

2  92 

3  65 

3  40 

146  00 

243  33 

219  00 

97  33 

194  66 

170  33 

292  00 

438  00 

389  32 

XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 


Wages  paid  to  employe's  in  Government  departments  and  offices  (exclusive  of  tradesmen  and 
laborers)  in  Melbourne,  Victoria, 

[Per  ihonth  forty-eight  hours  ] 


OcoupatioDS. 


Department  of  trade  and  customs. 

Clerk per  annum. 

Warehousekeeper do . . . 

Landing  surveyor do. .. 

Landing  waiter do  .. 

Kebonding  officer per  week. 

Locker per  annum . 

Weigher do . . . 

Watchman   do. . . 

Messenger per  week  . 

Tide  surveyor per  annum. 

Tide  waiter do  . . 

rokt-offi.cc  and  electric  telegraph. 

Clerk per  annum. 

Telegraph  operators do  . . 

Letter-sorters per  week . 

Letter  carriers do. .. 

Letter-stampers do . . . 

Messengers do. . . 

Telegraph  line  repairers do . . . 

Female  as.sistanl  s per  annum . 

Treasury  Department. 

Receiver  and  paymaster per  annum . 

Clerk do... 

Dispatch  clerk do... 

Messenger .- do... 


Lowest.  I  Highest.   Average. 


$253  04 

851  64 

2,511  12 

1,265  29 


J2,  516  00 
2,  516  00 
2,944  23 
2,  360  25 


.535  32 
379  59 


1,  459  95 
973  30 


2  92 

Gos'si' 


253  06 

496  38 

10  94 

6  56 

10  21 

2  55 

12  40 

253  06 


438  00 
97  33 


10  94 

'm'h'i 


2,  433  25 

1,  703  28 

18  73 

13  86 

13  86 
7  30 

14  60 
467  18 


3,041  56 
3,  041  56 


292  00         730  00 


$1,  495  00 


2,  068  26 
23  40 
973  30 
851  64 
632  65 

1,703  28 


973  30 

924  64 

15  81 

9  73 

12  16 
4  87 

13  38 
340  66 


1, 459  95 
973  30 
875  97 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA.:    VICTORIA. 

XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 


397 


Statement  showing  the  wagfs  paid  to  printers  {compositors,  pressmen,  proofreaders,  S-r.)  in 

Melbourne,   f'ictoriu. 

fPer  week  of  I'orty-eiglit  hours.] 


Occupations. 


Printers per  1 ,  000 

Litliogniphers per  week 

Binders do  . 

Paper  rulers do . . 

Sewers  and  folders,  females do. . 

GOVEKXMICXT    l-KI.NTING   OKKICE. 

Overseers  per  auiiuiii 

Reader do  . 

Compositors do   . 

Engineer per  week 

Machinist do. . 

Warehou.seman do  . 

Binders  do . . 

Folders  and  sewers do  . 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average. 


24 

.{14  6U 

12  16 

15  81 

4  87 


1,  70u  28 

1,313  96 

924  63 

25  54 

20  68 

14  60 

17  03 

7  30 


..'   .$12  16 

SI 8  25 

9  73 

14  GO 

14  60 

17  03 

3  65 

6  08 

973  30 

1,825  00 

.   1,216  63 

1,  338  29 

875  97 

1,216  64 

17  03 

13  40 

8  50 

0  08 


21  90 

19  47 
19  47 

8  50 


The  prices  paid  for  the  necessarit-s  of  life,  elotliiur/,  rent,  ifv, 


Arliiles 


Articles. 


Pric.v 


Agricultural  produce: 

Wheat per  bu.-thel..  *0  9.!  to  $0  97 

Barley do....  1  03  to  1  13 

Oats.' do..  5G  to  73 

Maize do....  1  13  to  121 

Bran do 22  to  24 

Hay ton..  14  60  to  29  30 

Flour.  ». do 40  75  to  43  80 

Bread 4-pound  loaf..  11  to  13 

Grazing  produce : 

Cattle  fat     each.  19  47  to  63  26 

Milch  cows do...  24  33  to  48  67 

Sheep do....  1  94  to  4  62 

Lambs do...  1  46  to  2  92 

Beef per  pound..  OK  to  16 

Mutton do...  04  to  10 

Veal do     .  10  to  16 

Pork do..  12to  20 

Lamb    per  iiuarter. .  48  to  85 

Dairy  produce: 
Butter  : 

Fresh    per  pound  32  to  36 

Potted do  ..  20 

Cheese do...  18  to  24 

Milk  perijuart..  08  to  12 

Farm-yard  produce : 

Turkevs    each..  2  43  to  3  65 

tlee.se'. do...  85  to  121 

Ducks do..  60  to  73 

Fowls do 60  to  73 

Rabbits perpair..  24  to  36 

Pigpiins    ■. do   ..  60 

Sucking  pigs eadi . .  2  43  to  3  40 

B.K-on perpounil..  10  to  24 

Ham do 20  to  £6 

Kiig.'* .*. .  per  dozen . .  28  to  36 


(ianleu  j)roduce  ; 

Potatoes per  cwt 

Ouions ....         .do   . 

(Jarrots dozen  bunches 

Turnips do. . 

Radislips do  . 

Cabbaijes  each 

Cauliflowers do  . 

Lettuce      do 

Green  peas   per  pound 

Miscellaneous  articles : 

Tea  per  pound 

Cotlee do . . 

Sugar do . . 

Rice do  . 

Jams         pound  tin 

Tobacco : 

Colonial per  pound 

American    do. . 

Soap     do. . 

Candles do   . 

Salt do.. 

Coals per  ton 

Firewood do. . 

Clothing: 

Tweed  s\iits 

Tweed  coats 

Tweed  trousers   

Mole  trousers 

Cotton  sliirts 

Wool  shirts  

Flannel  shirts 

Felt  hats 

Socks 

Boots  and  shoes 


60  to 

97 

97  to 

1  46 

12  to 

18 

12  to 

18 

08  to 

12 

03  to 

04 

05  to 

06 

02 

03  to 

08 

36  to 

60 

30  to 

36 

06  to 

08 

05  to 

OH 

10  to 

14 

1  21  to 

1  46 

06  to 

08 

18  to 

24 

6  08  to 

a  72 

2  31  to 

2  92 

9  73  to 

14  60 

4  50  to 

8  50 

2  55  to 

4  01 

1  21  to 

2  55 

48  to 

1  09 

1  33  to 

2  55 

1  09  to 

1  58 

GO  to 

2  06 

12  to 

24 

1  21  to 

4  87 

398 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    WEST    AUSTRALIA. 


AVEST  AUSTRALIA. 

REPORT  BY  CONSULAR  AGENT  DTNES,  OF  ALBANY. 

I.  General  employment. 

Wages  paid  in  Albany. 


Occapations. 


LoTcest.  i  Highest,  i  Ayerage. 


£.    s. 


d. 

10    0 

8    0 

10    0 


Caipen tei's per  day . . 

Builders do 

Brick-layers do 

Bricklayers'  laborers do 

Stone  masons do 1  8    0 

Blacksmiths do .... ;  8    0 

Plasterers do 10    0 

Plasterers'  laborers do 

Cabinet-makers do  —         10    0 

Drivers do 

Teamsters do 

Laborers,  general per  month . .  j 

Teachers,  public  schools do i    4    0    0 

Tanners per  day ..', 

Hod- carriers do ^ , 

Farm  laborers per  month. .  i    2  10    0 

Domestics per  year..;  15    0    0 

Team  drivers per  month ..\    3    0    0 


£  s.  d. 

12  0 

10  0 

12  0 

6  0 

10  0 

10  0 

12  0 

6  0 

12  0 

6 


10 


6 

6 

0 

6 

6 

4  0  0 
40  0  0 
4    0    0 


2  40 
2  88 

1  44 

2  40 
2  40 
2  88 

1  44 

2  88 
1  44 
1  44 
1  44 

48  65 
1  44 
1  44 

19  20 
194  65 

19  20 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  {officers  and  men),  distinguishing  ieticeen  sail  and  steam. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Master,  steamer. 

First  olficer 

Second  officer 

Third  officer 

Chief  steward  . . . 
Second  steward  . 
Third  steward . . . 
Cook  .  


£20 
12 


Firemen 

Seamen 

Master,  sailiujj 
First  officer  . . 
Second  officer 

Seamen 

Cook  


ship 


Highest.    Average. 


£30 

20 

15 

12 

35 

9 

7 

9 


15 


.$146  60 
97  32 
73  00 
58  41 
73  00 
43  78 
34  06 
43  78 
38  92 
29  17 
73  00 
43  78 
38  92 
24  33 
29  14 


IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wagea  paid  per  week  of  six  days,  7  a.  m.  to  6  p.m.,  stores,  uhohsale  or  ri-tail,  iu  males  and 

females,  in  Albany. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Shop-boys £4 

Shop-iDcn 7 

Shop-clerks I  12 

Females  in  shops |  4 

Tard-men I 

Butchers 

Draymen , 


est. 

Average. 

£6 

$29  19 

12 

58  38 

18 

87  57 

6 

29  19 

7 

34  06 

12 

58  38 

7 

34  06 

LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    NEW    ZEALAND. 


399 


]srEW  zeala:nd. 

JiEPORT  BT  CONSUL  ORIFFIX,  OF  AUCKLAND. 

The  average  rates  of  wages  paid  to  laborers  of  almost  every  class  in 
]!se\v  Zealand  do  uot  differ  greatly  from  the  rates  for  the  same  classes 
of  labor  iu  the  older  States  in  America.  The  industrial  development  of 
the  colony,  due  to  British  immigration,  began  only  about  fifty  years 
ago,  and  the  opportnnities  for  the  profitable  employment  of  labor  are 
so  great  that  no  over-supply  of  laborers  has  ever  been  experienced  in 
the  colony.  The  farming  and  grazing  interests  are  both  extensive,  sup- 
plying a  large  amonnt  of  the  food  products  and  woolen  goods  needed 
for  home  consumption,  besides  which  there  is  yielded  a  steadily  increas- 
ing supply  of  grain  for  export.  The  mining  interests  are  likewise  ex- 
tensive. The  average  annual  yield  of  gold  during  the  last  few  years^ 
in  the  North  and  the  South  Islands  together  has  been  about  $5,000,000. 
The  coal  fields,  which  exist  in  every  district,  furnishing  the  greater  part 
of  the  fuel  used  in  the  cities,  give  rise  to  a  growing  demand  for  labor. 
When  there  are  added  to  these  the  iron  industries,  the  timber  trade, 
the  cement  interests,  and  various  forms  of  manufacturing  not  referred 
to  above,  together  with  the  shipping  and  fisheries,  almost  every  one  of 
which  is  on  the  increase,  it  will  be  seen  that  a  large  field  for  labor  ex- 
ists here. 

The  figures  given  iu  the  table  herewith  apjieuded  apply  to  labor  in 
the  district  of  Auckland,  in  the  North  Island,  where,  owing  to  a  greater 
diversity  of  industry  than  in  any  other  district,  perhaps,  the  standard 
of  wages  in  the  trades  is  fixed.  The  short  notice  given  me  for  the  i)rep- 
aration  of  this  report  precludes  a  greater  definiteuess  of  detail  iu  these 
tables. 

I.  General  trades. 

JVages  paid  j)er  iveek  of  sixty  hours  in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 


BUILDIKG  TRADES. 

Bricklavers 

Hod-carriers 

Masons 

.  Tenders 

Plasterers 

Tenders 

Roofers 

Plumbers 

Carpenters 

Gas-titters 

OTHER  TRAHES. 

Blacksmiths 

Book-binders 

Butchers 

Brass-founders 

Cabinet-makers 

Confectioners 

Cigar-makers 

Coopers , 

Drivers 

Draymen  and  teamsters 

Cab  and  carriage 

Dyers 

Gardeners 

Hatters ". . . 

Horseshoers 

Jewelers 

Laborers,  porters,   A:f 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$14  59 

$18  97 

8  75 

11  67 

14  59 

20  43 

8  75 

11  67 

14  59 

20  43 

8  75 

11  67 

10  21 

17  51 

13  13 

17  51 

10  21 

17  51 

13  13 

17  51 

12  69 

17  51 

11  67 

14  59 

8  75 

11  67 

14  59 

20  43 

10  21 

17  51 

8  75 

11  67 

10  21 

15  00 

11  67 

16  05 

8  75 

11  67 

8  75 

11  07  1 

10  21 

13  13 

10  21 

13  13 

8  75 

11  67 

1    10  21 

13  13 

11  67 

17  51 

14  59 

20  43 

8  75 

11  67 

$17  51 
10  21 
17  51 
10  21 
17  51 
10  21 
14  59 
14  59 
14  59 
14  59 


14  59 

12  16 
10  21 
17  51 
14  59 
10  21 

13  16 

14  59 
10  21 

10  21 

11  67 

12  16 
10  21 
12  16 
14  59 
17  51 
10  21 


400         LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hour's  in  Auckland — Continued. 

Occupations.                                                    Lowest.  Highest.  I  Average. 

Other  trades — Continued.  i  j 

Millwrisbts !      $14  59  '$20  43  1  $17  51 

Nail  makers  (hand) !        1167!  14  59:  12  16 

Potters 1167  1  16  05:  14  59 

Printers I        15  00  1  25  00  30  00 

Teachers  (public  schools) '        12  00  i  27  00'  22  00 

Saddle  and  harness  makers :        10  00  i  13  00  !  15  00 

Sail-makers '        10  21  I  13  13  12  16 

Stevedores 10  21  !  13  13  15  00 

Tanners 10  21  17  00  14  00 

Tailors 1167  14  59  12  16 

Telegraph  operators i        18  00  [  27  00  25  00 

Tinsmiths ^5 .10  21  13  17  12  15 

Weavers  (outside  of  mills) ;        11  00  j  17  00:  14  00 


II.  Factories,  mills,  etc. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  factories  or  miUs  in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$3  25 
6  36 
8  75 

$18  97 
13  13 
11  67 

$14^  59 

12  16 

Candle  and  soap  factories . . 



10  21 

"The  timber  industry  in  Auckland  is  the  largest  in  the  soutliern  hemispliere.  over  8,000  hands 
being  employed  in  the  town  and  country  mills.  The  Auckland  Timber  (jonipany,  of  whicli  Mr. 
George  Holdship  is  the  managing  director,  gives  employmeni  to  1,000  hands. 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  tveek  in  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  ivorks  in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest.    Average. 


Foundrymen 


.$10  21  ;       $17  51  $14  59 


IV.  Glass-workers. 

Wages  paid  per  ueek  of  sixty  hours  to  glass-workers  in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.  I  Average. 


(rlass  blowers . 


$17  02  j .     $28  22  i        $19  46 


Y.  Mines  and  mining. 

Wages  paid  per  u-eek  of  nixty  houm  in  and  in  connection  with  gold  and  coal  mines  in  Auck- 
land district. 


Occupations. 


Coal  miners. 
Gold  miners. 
Manganese .'. 


Lowest. 


$13  13 
15  13 
13  13 


Highest,  i  Average. 


J18  16  1        $17  21 
18  16  !  17  21 

17  21  17  21 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    NEW    ZEAIiAND. 

VI.  Eailway  employes. 


401 


Wages  paid  per  week  to  railwai/  emploi/cs  (those  ou/af/ed  about  utatiotis,  as  well  a^  those  en- 
gaged on  the  engines  and  ears,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  <)'c. )  in  Auckland. 


Occupatious. 


Lowest.  I  Highest.    Average. 


Engine-drivers . 

Brakeuii^u 

Laborers 


$11  13        $17  21  i        $12  16 
9  16  13  14  11  91 

8  75  11  67  I  10  21 


VII.  Ship-yards  and  ship-building. 

Wages  paid  pei- week  of  sixty  hours  in  ship-yards — distinguishing  between  iron  and  wood 
ship-building — in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 


Lowest.    Highest.    Average. 


"Wood  . 


$10  21  I      $17  51  $14  59 


VIII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seumen  {officers  and  men)  in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

Maf«                    .       .            

$38  93 
24  33 

$43  79 
38  93 

$38  93 
29  19 

IX.  Store  and  shop  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  sixty  hours  in  stores,  wholesale  or  retail,  to  males  and  females,  in 

Auckland. 


Occupations. 


Drv-gooda  stores,  male  . 

Milliners,  female 

Dress-makers,  female  .. 


Lowest.    Highest. 


Average. 


$9  73  j      $21  16  $12  16 

6  13  I  8  21  7  29 

3  40  4  13  1  3  65 


X.  Household  wages  in  towns  and  cities. 

Wages  paid  per  week  to  household  servants  (towns  and  cities)  in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 


General  house  servants. 

Cooks    

Laundresses >. 

Housemaids  , 

Nursemaids 

Needlewomen 


92  A— li  LAB 26 


Lowest. 

i 
Highest.! 

$1  94 

$3  40  I 

4  86 

7  29 

2  92 

4  86 

2  43 

3  40  i 

1  21 

2  43 

2  43 

3  40  1 

$2  67 
6  07 
3  65 
2  92 

1  94 

2  92 


402 


LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 


Wages  paid  per  wcek^  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  {country)  servants  in  Otago, 

with  board  and  lodging. 


Occupations. 


Average. 


Plowmen 

Reapers 

Mowers 

Thiashera 

Farm  laTiorera 

Shepherds 

Stock-keepers 

Sheep-washers 

Men  cooks  ou  farms  — 
Female  farm  servants. 


$5  70 
10  33 
12  16 
10  94 

5  46 
8  90 
8  90 
7  32 

6  44 
3  46 


*  Laborers  are  frequently  employed  by  the  day,  without  board,  at  wages  averaging  30  per  cent,  more 
than  the  figures  here  given. 

XII.  Corporation  employes. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  forty-eight  hours  to  the  corporation  employes  in  the  city  of  Auck- 
land. 


Occupations.  Lowest.  ,  Highest 

Book-keepers  in  banks $17  02  $28  22 

Book-keepers,  in  other  corporations 1.5  32  25  40 

Mes.sengere  in  banks , I  4  80  7  29 

Confidential  clerks  in  stores  and  banks  17  02  28  22 


Average. 


$19  46 
17  52 
6  07 
19  46 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  hours  to  employes  in   Government  de- 
partments and  offices,  exclusive  of  tradesmen  and  laborers,  in  Auckland. 


Occupations. 


Government  of  the  colony : 

Custom-house  clerks 

Post-office  clerks' 

Letter-carrierst 

Clerks  in  railroad,  in8urance,[and  registration  ofiices. 

Telegraph  op(!ratorst   I 

Municipal  government : 

Mayor 

Town  clerk 


Lowest. 


$60  81 
51  08 
51  08 
60  81 
63  25 


Highest. 


$121  62 
91  23 
91  23 
101  09 
97  20 


Average. 


$81  25 
81  25 
81  25 
83  33 
87  58 

81  25 
81  25 


*  Per  month  of  260  hours.  t  Per  month  of  208  hours. 

Xiy.  Trades  and  labor — Government  employ. 

Wagespaid  by  the  week  of  sixty  hours  to  the  trades  and  laborers  in  Government  employ  in 

Auckland. 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest.   Average. 

PoTt:er8 

$8  71 
10  16 

$11  67          $10  25 

14.  .'>4                19  Iff 

Laborers 

LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND. 


403 


XV.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

About  the  same  as  the  Western  States  of  the  United  States ;  gener- 
ally work  by  the  piece. 

COST   OF   living. 

The  cost  of  living  amongst  the  laboring  classes  other  than  those  on 
farms  is  such  as  to  enable  them  in  most  cases  to  approximate  the  condi- 
tion of  the  better  classes  of  laborers  in  the  Auierican  cities.  The  farm- 
ing classes  are  able  generally  to  siipi)l3-  their  tables  well  from  the  direct 
results  of  their  labor.  Some  idea  of  the  cost  of  food  maybe  had  from 
the  table  given  below,  embracing  a  range  from  the  manufacturing  and 
agricultural  city  and  district  of  Auckland  to  the  almost  purely  agricult- 
ural district  of  Marlborough,  which  includes  no  town  of  importance. 

The  quality  of  wheat  grown  in  New  Zealand  is  worthy  of  note.  Dr. 
Schomburgh,  an  authority  on  agriculture  in  Australasia,  classes  the 
leading  varieties  grown  here  with  the  very  best  American  varieties. 
This  being  a  gi'azing  country,  also,  the  beef  and  mutton  used  even  upon 
the  tables  of  workingmen,  all  of  whom  can  afford  meat  every  day,  are 
of  a  good  quality. 

Average  prices  of  prorisiotis. 


Articles. 

iL_ 

Meat: 

Beef per  pound.. 

Matton. do 

Pork do 

Wheat per  bushel . . 

Flour per  100  pounds. . 

Sugar per  pound.. 

Tea do 

Cotfee do 

Rice do  — 

Salt do 

Milk per  quart . . 

Butter : 

Freeh per  pound . . 

Salt do.... 

Cheese; 

Colonial    do 

Imported do 

Beer,  colonial per  hogshead. . 

Bottle*!  beer,  English per  dozen  quarts. . 

'  Brandy per  gallon . . 


Auck. 
land. 


$0  11 
07 
10 
1  15 
3  04 
U9 
52 
36 
06 
02 
10 

26 
24 

16 

24 

22  62 

3  16 

5  57 


Canter- 
bury. 


$0  09 
08 
11 
8« 
2  67 
08 
57 
46 
06 
02 
08 

24 

18 

22 

36 

25  33 

4  38 

5  69 


Otago. 


$0  10 
08 
13 
99 

2  79 
10 
66 
39 
07 
03 
09 

24 
23 

20 

31 

24  H3 

3  40 
5  73 


Xelson. 


$0  12 
08 
12 
1  09 
4  01 
11 
60 
44 
08 
02 
12 

26 

20 

16 

56 

24  33 

3  89 

%5  69 


Marl- 
borough. 


$0  12 
08 
12 
1  21 
3  16 
10 
73 
48 

es 

02 
06 

16 
12 

20 

4S 

24  33 

3  40 

5  73 


■Note. — The  above  table  is  compiled  from  the  New  Zealand  government  statistics  for  the  year 
ended  December  31,  1883.  There  ha.s  been  since  then  a  .slight  decline  in  some  of  the  articles  and  a  slight 
increase  in  others,  but  upon  the  whole  the  prices  here  given  may  be  regarded  as  a  fair  average  of  the 
year  1884. 

G.  W.  G. 

HABITS   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 


The  habits  of  the  working  classes  of  New  Zealand  are  better  i)erhaps 
than  in  any  other  colony  in  Australasia.  Beer  and  si)irits  are  not  drunk 
amongst  these  classes  so  much  as  formerly.  Although  both  are  included 
in  the  New  Zealand  lists  of  provisions,  their  consumption  in  many  of 
the  districts  is  so  small  that  it  ought  not  to  be  taken  into  consideration. 
Asa  class,  the  working  i)eoi)le  of  the  colony  are  industrious,  prudent, 
and  economical.  The  liberal  inducements  they  have  to  save  their  earn- 
ings have  been  taken  advantage  of  very  generally,  both  in  the  cities  and 
in  the  rural  districts,  principally  with  a  view  to  attracting  immigrants, 
who  were  formerly  deterred  from  settling  in  the  North  Island  by  a  dis- 


404  LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA:    NEW    ZEALAND. 

like  of  proximity  to  the  Maori,  or  native  population,  on  account  of  their 
fierce  and  warlike  habits.  The  Maori  race  luay  now  be  considered 
entirely  subdued.  Their  country  is  gradually  being  opened  up  for  set- 
tlement, and  every  effort  is  made,  both  by  the  government  and  peo- 
ple, to  cultivate  cordial  and  friendly  relations  between  the  two  races. 
There  is  a  strong  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  white  laborers  in  the  North 
Island  to  purchase  small  farms ;  indeed  nearly  all  of  them  aspire  to  be- 
come proprietors,  which  they  may  do  more  readily,  perhaps,  than  in  any 
other  country  except  the  United  States.  The  deferred  payment  sys- 
tem, which  applies  both  to  country  and  city,  permits  of  the  purchase  of 
lands  or  building  lots,  to  be  paid  for  in  a  term  of  years  of  sufficient 
length  not  to  oppress  the  purchaser. 

The  existence  of  numerous  savings  banks,  which  pay  a  liberal  rate 
(4  to  0  per  cent.)  upon  deposits,  has  also  been  a  great  incentive  to  the 
saving  of  money  by  wage-workers.  Thelargest  of  the  private  savings 
banks  is  that  at  Auckland,  under  the  patronage  of  the  governor  of  the 
colony,  who  is  its  president.  Smaller  banks  of  the  same  character 
exist  in  all  the  cities.  The  Postal  Savings  Bank,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  government,  has  its  headquarters  at  Auckland,  with  branches  in 
every  district  in  the  colony.  These  various  banks  contained  in  deposits, 
according  to  the  last  published  report,  $9,1G(),748.42,  to  the  credit  of  08,358 
persons,  or  an  average  of  $127.98  to  each.  The  depositors  belong  al- 
most altogether  to  the  laboring  classes.  The  deferreii  payment  system, 
before  referred  to,  permits  laboring  men  in  many  cases  to  deposit  their 
earnings  long  enough  for  some  interest  to  accrue  upon  them  before  pay- 
ing for  the  lands  purchased.  • 

Woikingmen  are  very  generally  heads  of  families,  and  it  is  worthy 
of  mention  that  the  influence  which  such  a  responsibility  has  to  encour- 
age industrious  and  economical  habits  is  so  great  that  a  n)an  with  a 
family,  as  a  rule,  succeeds  in  getting  employment  better  than  others. 
The  extent  of  the  responsil)ility  referred  to  will  be  understood  when  it 
is  mentioned  that  the  climate  here  seems  to  promote  productiveness 
amongst  women,  they  becoming  developed  at  an  early  age  and  often 
giving  birth  to  a  child  every  year  for  a  long  period.  Families  contain- 
ing a  dozen  or  more  children  are  by  no  means  rare. 

FEELING  BETWEEN  EMPLOYE  AND  EMPLOYER. 

The  feeling  which  prevails  generally  between  employes  and  employ- 
ers in  the  colony  is  a  fortunate  one  for  both  classes.  Generally  the  two 
classes  are  brought  into  closer  contact  than  is  the  case  either  in  Eng- 
land, or  in  the  older  States  of  America,  where  large  corporations  often 
control  the  labor  of  hundreds  or  thousands  of  men  whose  personal  con- 
dition, wants,  or  griev^ances  cannot  be  known  to  the  chief  employer. 
The  result  in  the  latter  case  is  to  give  rise  to  the  expression  so  often 
heard,  that  "corporations  have  no  souls."  Tlie  relation  of  the  two  classes 
in  New  Zealand  is  well  illustrated  by  the  fact  that  in  most  of  the  large 
mills  and  factories  there  is  given  every  year  a  dinner  to  all  the  emi)loy6s. 
On  these  occasions  the  proprietor  or  a  foreman  delivers  an  address  to 
the  workingmen,  commending  them  if  they  have  done  well  and  encour- 
aging them  to  further  good  efforts.  Speeches  are  made  also  by  the  lead- 
ing employes,  both  responding  to  the  expressions  of  good  will  on  the  part 
of  the  propreitor  and  counseling  the  under-workmen  on  the  value  of 
habits  of  industry  and  economy. 

orctAnization  of  labor. 

Trades  unions  have  existed  here  for  the  past  twenty  years,  nearly 
every  trade  now  being  so  organized.     The  general  purpose  of  these 


LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND.         405 

iiiiiojis  is  veiy  imich  the  same  as  with  similar  oifianizatioiis  in  older 
countries,  though  little  occasion  has  existed  in  the  i)ast  for  testing- their 
strength,  either  as  a  i)olitical  factor  or  as  a  means  of  dictating  terms  to 
employers  or  ca])iralists.  Heretofore  questions  of  this  character  have 
not  reached  a  snllicient  in)portance  to  lead  to  any  legislation  with  refer- 
ence to  the  em])loyment  of  labor  or  the  protection  of  laborers. 

There  has  arisen  of  late,  however,  a  workingmen's  party,  the  future 
of  which  IS  being  looked  forward  to  Avith  interest.  Here  suti'iage  is  uni- 
versal, every  nnile  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  being  an  elector.  The  gov- 
ernment of  New  Zealand  is  like  that  of  other  British  colonies.  It  consists 
of  a  legislative  council  appointed  for  life  and  a  house  of  representa- 
tives containing  ninety  one  members  elected  for  three  years  by  the  peo- 
ple, and  four  Maori  members  elected  by  the  Maori  race.  The  governor 
is  appointed  by  the  Crown.  The  ministry  is  tornied  in  the  same  way  as 
that  of  Great  Britain.  The  people  also  elect  the  municipal  officers.  It 
must  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  a  man  is  entitled  to  a  vote  in 
every  district  in  which  he  owns  i)roperty.  This  reference  to  the  gov- 
ernmeut  is  made  here  that  the  character  of  the, movement  of  the  work- 
ingmeu  in  New  Zealand  may  be  better  understood. 

This  movement  had  its  origin  only  a  few  months  since,  but  its  strength 
has  grown  with  a  rapidity  that  can  be  understood  only  by  those  who 
have  been  familiar  with  such  uprisings  as  that  of  the  "Know-Nothing" 
I)arty  in  the  United  States  thirty  years  ago.  The  new  i)arty  already 
sustains  a  number  of  newspaper  organs,  the  two  leading  ones  being 
published  at  Auckland  and  Dunedin.  In  general,  these  papers  are  de- 
voted to  propagating  the  vie\fs  of  Henry  George,  the  economic  writer 
who  has  begun  recently  to  attract  so  much  attention  in  England  and 
America.  The  specific  demands  made  by  these  papers  for  .the  classes 
they  rei)resent  are : 

1.  A  readjustment  of  the  system  of  taxation.  At  present  the  Maoris 
are  entirely  exempt  from  taxation.  The  workingnien  complain  likewise 
of  the  high  amount  of  indirect  taxation,  such  as  customs  dues  on  articles 
that  cannot  be  manufactured  in  New  Zealand.  They  also  demand  a  re- 
duction of  the  property  tax. 

2.  A  curtaihnent  of  the  power  of  suffrage  of  the  wealthier  classes. 
While  every  man  is  entitled  to  vote  once,  property-holders  have  the 
right  to  vote  in  every  district  in  which  they  have  possessions,  thus  giv- 
ing to  many  citizens  two  or  more  votes. 

3.  More  liberal  terms  for  the  acfiuirementof  land  in  fee-simple  in  the 
South  Island,  where  the  liberal  si)irit  before  referred  to  as  existing  in 
the  North  Island  is  less  known. 

4.  The  enactment  of  an  eight  hour  labor  law  and  an  act  making  holi- 
days more  frequent. 

The  workingmen's  party  has,  perhaps,  its  principal  strength  in  the 
South  Island,  where  the  conditions  generally  prevailing  have  been  some- 
what less  favorable  for  the  working  classes  than  in  the  North  Island, 
particularly  with  regaid  to  the  acquirement  of  lands  by  small  farmers 
and  factory  oj>eratives.  Its  leader,  however.  Sir  George  Grey,  resides 
in  the  North  Island,  and  his  ])ersonal  popularity  has  given  the  party 
great  strength  in  the  city  and  district  of  Auckland. 

NEW  ZEALAND   TARIFF. 

The  tariff  or  customs  dues  may  be  regarded  as  protective,  although 
it  is  claimed  bj'  the  governmental  authorities  to  be  levied  only  for  rev- 
enue. There  is  an  ad  valorem  duty  of  15  ])er  cent,  on  nearly  all  neces- 
saries.    Woolen  goods  pay  15  per  cent,  ad  valorem.     This,  small  as 


406         LABOK  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND. 

it  is,  enables  the  ^sTew  Zealand  luaimfacturer  to  compete  successfully 
with  the  foreign  market  in  manj'  branches  of  woolens,  such  as  tweeds, 
blankets,  &:c. 

The  boot  and  shoe  manufacturers  are  protected.  The  duty  charged 
on  boots  imported  into  New  Zealand  is  12s.  ($2.92)  per  one  dozen  pairs. 
Youths,  Nos.  1  to  5,  10s.  ($2.43)  per  one  dozen  pairs.  Women's,  No.  3 
and  upwards,  8s.  ($1,94)  per  one  dozen  pairs.  Soap  and  caudle  manu- 
factures are  also  protected.  Common  soap  is  taxed  at  3s.  (73  cents)  per 
cwt.  Scented  soap  pays  an  ad  valorem  duty  of25])er  cent.  Tallow 
caudles  pay  a  half  penny  (1  cent)  per  pound.  Sperm  and  parafine 
l^d.  (3  cents)  per  pound.  The  timber  industry  is  also  protected.  There 
is  a  duty  of  2s.  (48  cents)  charged  on  every  100  feet  of  rough  timber 
imported.  Sawn  timber,  dressed  timber,  and  dressed  sawn  timber  pay 
a  duty  of  4s.  (97  cents)  for  every  100  superficial  feet.  There  is  also  a 
charge  of  8s.  ($1.94)  for  every  lOU  ])osts  imported.  Rails  pay  4s.  (97 
cents)  for  every  100  imported. 

Canned  fruits  are  also  protected  with  a  specific  duty  of  l^fL  (3  cents) 
I)er  pound.     Jams  audjellies  pay  3  cents  jjer  pound. 

Tobacco  is  taxed  at  3s.  (id.  (87  cents)  per  pound.  This  import  duty 
has  been  the  means  of  developing  the  growth  and  manufacture  of 
tobacco  in  New  Zealand,  especially  in  the  North  Island,  where  the  soil 
in  many  i)laces  is  said  to  contain  the  same  chemical  ingredients  as  in 
the  most  favored  districts  in  the  Island  of  Cuba. 

TAXATION. 

A  late  assessment  for  property  tax  shows  the  total  value  of  private 
property  in  New  Zealand  to  be $369,790,910.  Annual  value,  $26,082,605. 
The  property  tax,  which  is  about  1  penny  (2  cents)  in  the  pound  ster- 
ling ($4.86),  is  levied  on  all  persons  possessing  over  £500  ($2,430)  worth 
of  property.  There  are  in  New  Zealand  5,417  paying  a  tax  of  £1  ($4.86) 
and  9.048  persons  paving  a  tax  of  over  £1  ($4.86)  and  under  £5  ($24.33) ; 
2,146  persons  of  £10 "($48.66)  and  under  £20  ($97.33).  The  total  num- 
ber of  persons  paying  property  tax  in  New  Zealand  from  £1  ($4.86)  to 
£6,000  ($29.16)  is  22,087.  A  further  return  shows  that  there  are  902 
persons  possessing  freeholder's  interest  in  land  worth  £10,000  ($48.66) 
and  over.  The  same  return  shows  that  there  are  60,658  in  the  colony 
owning  freehold  titles  to  farms — about  one-eighth  of  the  European  pop- ' 
ulation,  jH-obably  unparalleled  in  the  world.  The  number  of  persons 
owning  se[)aratc  farms  in  the  United  States  is  unexcei)tiouably  large, 
but  according  to  the  census  of  1880  it  was  4,208,907 — considerably  less 
in  proportion  to  the  population  than  that  of  New  Zealand. 

■     SOITRCES   OF   REVENUE. 

In  this  connection  it  will  be  well  enough  to  mention  that  tlie  princi- 
pal source  of  revenue  in  New  Zealand  is  derived  from  the  customs. 
The  next  largest  is  from  the  raih\a.ys  and  telegraphs,  which  are  owned 
and  nianaged  by  the  Government.  Then  there  are  other  sources,  such  as 
the  receipts  from  the  postal  service,  stairip  duty,  beer  duty,  judicial  fees, 
property  tax  (referred  to  above),  judicial  tees,  land  and  deeds,  nmrine 
fees,  registration  and  other  iees,  disparturing  licenses,  land  sales,  &c. 
The  tax  actually  i)aid  ])er  head  in  New  Zealand  is  estimated  at  £3  12s. 
($17.51).  The  gross  indebtedness  of  the  colony  on  account  of  loans  at 
the  end  of  Mar(;h,  1883,  was  $145,714,193,  subject  to  a  reduction  of 
$12,344,779  for  sinking  funds  that  have  accrued.    The  total  expenditure 


LABOR    IN    AUSTRALASIA :    NEW    ZEALAND.  407 

up  to  the  31st  of  Marcb,  1883,  out  of  tlie  public  works  fund,  amounted 
to  $91,409,280.  The  large  public  debt  of  the  colony,  as  I  have  fre- 
quently pointed  out  in  my  reports  to  the  Department  of  State,  was  prin- 
cipally incurred  by  expenditures  on  i)ublic  works.  Prior  to  1870  the 
year  in  whi(;h  the  public  works  and  immigration  policy  was  inaugurated, 
the  indebtedness  of  the  colony  was  only  $35,330,957. 

PUBLIC   LOANS. 

Under  the  public  works  and  immigration  s^-stemthe  sum  of  $94,560,000 
has  been  borrowed.  Bills  were  passed,  during  the  session  of  the  colonial 
parliament,  of  1882,  authorizing  loans  of  $19,200,000;  $14,400,000  for  the 
construction  of  railways  and  public  works,  and  $4,800,000  for  the  North 
Island  trunk  railway. 

These  loans  were  obtained  in  London  at  the  rate  of  4  per  cent,  per 
annum.  The  revenue  for  the  year  ending  the  31st  of  March,  1883,  was 
$17,964,264.  Of  this  amount '$7,179,422  was  received  at  the  customs, 
$4,582,752  from  the  railways,  $2,133,067  from  stam]>s,  and  $447,048  from 
the  telegraph,  and  the  remainder  from  the  property  tax.  The  revenue 
for  stamps  was  $50,000  in  excess  of  the  colonial  treasurer's  estimate. 
Included  in  this  class  are  the  duties  under  the  stamp  act,  postal  rev- 
enue fees,  and  fines  of  the  law  courts,  and  land  transfer  fees,  for  all  of 
which  there  is  now  only  one  description  of  stamp  in  use. 

The  treasury  is  consequently  unable  to  apportion  the  money  received 
from  sales  of  stam])S  to  the  classes  of  revenue  to  which  they  relate.  The 
same  courvse,  that  of  permitting  one  kind  of  stamp  to  be  used  for  all 
purposes,  has  been  followed  to  some  extent  in  other  British  colonies 
and  in  England,  and  uo  practical  inconvenience  has  resulted  therefrom, 
while  to  the  public  the  use  of  only  one  stamp  has  been  of  very  great 
advantage. 

THE   WORKINGMEN  AND   ASSISTED   IMMIGRATION. 

During  the  year  from  the  1st  of  April,  1882,  to  the  30th  of  June, 
1883,  3,205  assisted  immigrants  arrived  in  New  Zealand.  Auckland  re- 
ceived 556,  Taranaki  14,  Hawkes  liay  160,  Wellington  223,  Marlborough 
8,  Nelson  19,  Westland  27,  Canterbury  1,074,  and  Otago  1,114  From 
July,  1870,  when  the  assisted-immigration  policy  was  inaugurated,  to 
June  30,  1883,  104,419  assisted  immigrants  have  arrived  in  the  colouj\ 
The  workingmen  are  opi)osed  very  bitterly  to  the  policy  of  assisting  im- 
migrants to  New  Zealand  ;  they  believe  in  immigration  but  do  not  think 
the  people  should  be  taxed  for  such  a  purpose.  The  workingmen  argue 
that  the  i)olicy  operates  injuriously  to  the  interest  of  the  workmen  in 
reducing  the  ])rice  paid  for  labor.  It  is  admitted,  however,  that  a  great 
benefit  is  conferred  ui)on  the  immigrant  by  bringing  him  out  from  En- 
gland, thereby  securing  to  him  double  the  amouut  of  wages  and  many 
more  comforts  than  he  could  get  at  home.  JMr.  Hursthouse,  who  has 
given  much  time,  thought,  and  study  to  the  condition  of  labor  in  New 
Zealand,  is  of  the  opinion  that  a  workman  can  supi)ort  a  small  family' 
very  comfortably  on  6.s\  Cnl.  ($1.58)  per  day.  He  says  that  the  workman 
in  England  has  to  live  on  less  than  Ss.  Gd.  (85  cents)  per  day,  when  the 
price  of  food  is  nearly  double  what  it  is  in  New  Zealand. 

Mr.  Hutchison,  a  nieml)er  of  parliament  from  Wellington  district,  has 
been  for  a  number  of  jears  a  very  earnest  opponent  to  the  assisted-im- 
migration i»olicy,  and  bethinks  that  if  abolished  the  rate  of  wages  would 
be  unquestionably  higher,  and  moreover  that  not  only  the  workingman 


408 


LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND. 


but  all  classes  would  be  improved  by  the  change.-  Mr.  Hutchison  does 
not  think  that  the  present  rate  of  wages  for  the  workingmen  in  New 
Zealand,  Qs.  6d.  (81.58)  per  day,  is  enough  to  enable  him  to  live,  especially 
if  he  should  have  a  family. 

COST   OF   LIVING, 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Hutchison  for  the  following  table  showing  the 
cost  of  living  in  New  Zealand  for  a  workingman  with  a  wife  and  three 
children : 


Eent  and  taxes. 
Fuel 


Liirhting 

Bread,  flour,  ontmeal . 

Butler 

Milk 

Butcher  meat 

Potatoes,  vegetablea  . 
Fish ... 


Itema. 


Per 

■week. 


Tea 

Coffee 

Su}:ar    

Rice  and  i)arley 

Soiip,  soda,  starcli 

Salt,  pepper,  mustard,  &c 

Clot hiiiij,  boots,  &e   

Religion  aud  charity  

Newspaper,  stationery,  and  school-books. 


Total 


Total  in  American  money. 


s.  d. 

6  0 

3  6 

1  0 


2  0 

4  6 

1  6 

1  0 

1  a 

0  10 

2  0 


7     0 

0  6 

1  0 


Per 
annum. 


£   s.  d. 


4  0 
2  0 
12  0 
0  0 
16  0 
4  0 
11  14  0 
3  18  0 

2  12  0 

3  5  0 
2  3  4 
5  4  0 
2  12  0 
16  0 
0  13  8 

18  4  0 
16  0 
2  12  0 


111     8  0 


$542  12 


This  expenditure  is  £10  I2s.  ($51.57)  in  excess  of  the  workingman's 
earnings  at  the  rate  of  0,s'.  (M.  ($1.55)  per  day,  supposing  he  should  re- 
ceive work  throughout  the  year.  In  the  event  of  illness,  his  case  is  de- 
plorable. The  table  makes  no  allowance  for  doctor's  bills,  medicine,  &c. 
Mr.  Hutchison  says  the  reason  that  there  is  no  i)auper  class  in  New 
Zealand  is  because  the  country  is  so  productive  that  it  is  able  to  stand 
the  worst  kind  of  legislation,  but  this  state  of  affairs,  he  argues,  cannot 
last  much  longer.  The  number  of  the  unemployed,  he  says,  is  daily  in- 
creasing and  the  bitter  cry  of  the  poor  is  beginning  to  be  heard  in  all 
the  large  towns.  The  Hon.  Major  Atkinson,  the  premier,  is  of  the 
opinion  that  the  workingmen  have  little  cause  of  complaint,  and  that 
the  action  of  the  working  classes  is  making  matters  worse.  He  says  in 
his  last  linancial  statement  to  the  New  Zealand  parliament : 

I  say  distinctly,  after  a  most  careful  coiiKideration  of  the  whole  condition  of  the 
country,  that  there  are  not  only  no  real  grounds  for  taking  a  despondent  view  of  our 
position,  but  on  the  contrary  there  is  much  reason  to  justify  us  in  looking  forward 
with  confidence  to  a  future  of  great  pro8i)erity.  We,  like  other  connnuuities,  shall 
have  our  ups  and  downs.  Unusual  prosperity  will  be  followed  by  unusual  depres- 
sion as  is  the  case  all  over  the  world.  No  one  who  sees  the  steady  iiiiproveuients  that 
are  going  on  all  over  the  colony,  who  observes  the  very  substantial  increase  in  the 
savings  banks  deposit,  tlu^  great  increase  in  life-assurance  Ijusiness,  and  the  rapid  de- 
velopment of  our  manufacturing  industries,  and  who  has  watched  our  import  and 
export  trade,  can  doubt  that  we  are  i)roduc,ing  euough  to  pay  our  debts,  1  ve  comfort- 
ably and  gradually  accunmlate  capital. 

Majjor  Atkinson  accounts  for  the  present  dej^ression  in  parts  of  the 
colony  princi[)ally  from  the  fact  that  the  colonists  were  tempted  by  cheap 
freights  and  comparatively  easy  money,  to  over-import,  forgetting,  for 


LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND.         409 

the  moment,  tlieetiect  wliicli  would  follow  the  contraction  in  the  expen- 
ditnie  of  borrowed  money.  He  urges  the  people  to  practice  self-denial, 
self-restraint,  and  to  live  within  their  means  both  publicly  and  pri- 
vately. 

STRIKES. 

Labor  strikes  have  never  been  prevalent,  and,  when  they  have  oc- 
curred, have  been  so  limited  in  extent  that  employers  have  had  but  little 
trouble  in  fillinj;-  the  places  of  the  strikers  with  other  laborers.  Hence 
the  strikes  have  been  usually  of  short  duration,  nearly  always  result- 
ing in  the  tinal  adoption  of  the  terms  of  the  employer.  Within  the  ])ast 
few  weeks  a  strike  occurred  in  one  of  the  largest  boot  manufactories  in 
Auckland,  the  strikers  emphasizing  their  demand  for  higher  wages  by 
such  scenes  of  violence  as  have  been  witnessed  in  strikes  in  America. 
The  proprietors  liad  no  trouble,  however,  in  filling  their  factory  with 
new  men  upon  the  old  terms. 

WAGES   AND   FOOD   PURCHASES. 

The  working  people  generally  are  paid  their  wages  once  a  week  in 
factories  and  once  a  month  upon  farms.  Tlie  money  in  use  is  sterling 
coin  and  the  notes  of  the  various  banks  and  branch  baidcs  of  issue  in 
the  colony.  These  notes  are  not  allowed  to  circulate  outside  of  New 
Zealand,  and  there  is  \r<ud  upon  the  amount  issued  a  yearly  tax  of  2  per 
cent,  to  the  Government.  The  wage-working  classes  are  free  to  pur- 
chase the  necessaries  of  life  wherever  they  choose,  the  plan  of  corpora- 
tion stores,  or  company  stores,  such  as  prevail  in  the  Pennsylvania  niin- 
ing  regions  being  unknown  here.  Co-operative  stores  and  co-oi)erative 
purchasing  agencies  have  no  general  existence  as  yet  among  working 
people. 

GENERAL   CONDITION   OF   THE   WORKING   CLASSES. 

In  addition  to  the  light  thrown  upon  the  condition  of  the  working 
classes  in  the  preceding  statements  mention  may  be  made  of  their  homes 
and  the  manner  in  which  their  homes  are  furnished.  Tenement  houses 
are  almost  unknown.  In  the  cities  certain  streets  come  to  be  occupied 
by  the  cottages  of  the  woikingmen,  while  others  live  in  the  suburbs. 
On  the  farms,  where  it  is  usual  for  laborers  regularly  emjdoyed  to  have 
fanulies,  cottages  are  provided  for  them.  These  houses,  both  in  city 
and  country,  are  usually  built  of  wood,  though  many  of  brick  and  con- 
crete are  built.  The  rental  per  week  is  from  $l.ol  upward ;  this  sum, 
$1.31  per  week,  being  sufficient  to  secure  a  house  containing  two  or 
three  rooms  and  a  kitchen.  For  $4  to  $5  per  week  (£50  and  £60  per 
year)  a  house  containing  eight  or  ten  rooms  may  be  had  in  Auckland. 

The  table  of  an  average  workingman  in  Auckland  will  usually  be 
found  to  be  suj)plied  as  follows:  For  breakfast,  meat  (beef  or  lamb),  po- 
tatoes, oatmeal,  bread,  and  coffee.  For  dinner,  soup,  meat  (beef  or 
lamb,  with  pork  in  winter),  vegetables  (potatoes,  kiimeros  or  sweet  po- 
tatoes, beans,  asparagus,  cauliflower,  cabbage,  &c.),  wheat  bread,  and 
tea.     For  supper,  meat,  bread,  potatoes,  cotiee  or  tea. 

Wheat  bread  here  is  often  made  of  unbolted  flour  by  the  working- 
men's  families,  this  being  cheaper  besides  being  considered  more  whole- 
some, than  bolted  flour.  Since  the  recent  increase  in  the  temperance 
sentiment  the  use  of  tea  has  largely  supplanted  that  of  beer  as  a  table 
drink. 


410         LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND. 

The  fuel  used  in  the  cities  and  towns  is  coal,  the  whole  couutry  being 
cue  vast  coal-seam.  It  is  also  used  upon  the  farms  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  mines.  The  black  coal,  similar  to  the  Newcastle  coals  in  England, 
and  harder  than  the  Pittsburgh  coals,  costs  at  the  mines  $2,92  per  En- 
glish ton,  and  $3.89  j)er  ton  delivered  in  Auckland.  Tiiere  is  a  cheaper 
coal — a  brown  variety — which  costs  only  two-thirds  as  much  as  the  other, 
but  it  is  better  fitted  for  manufacturing  purposes  than  for  household 
use. 

The  male  population  is  greatly  in  excess  of  the  females.  In  the  Eu- 
ro])ean  jwpulation  here  the  disparity  is  49,277,  as  shown  by  the  most 
recent  statistics,  in  a  population  of  500,000.  The  women  are  in  such 
demand  for  wives,  therefore,  that  not  only  are  they  not  found  in  facto- 
ries, but  it  is  difficult  often  to  supply  the  demand  for  female  house 
servants.  Generally  the  head  of  a  family  is  the  only  member  found  at 
work  in  factories,  though  boys  among  people  of  every  class  are  usually 
apprenticed  to  some  trade.  There  is  no  law  against  the  employment 
of  children  in  factories,  and  they  are  sometimes  found  at  light  work. 
Education  is  compulsory,  some  discretion  being  allowed,  however,  to 
the  local  boards  of  the  district  schools,  as  in  some  cases  the  strict  en- 
forcement of  the  law  might  result  in  hardships. 

VVorkingmen  are  generally  occupied  ten  hours  per  day.  Factories 
heretofore  have  been  lacking  in  comfort  and  cleanliness,  but  some  of 
the  new  establishments  show  an  improvement  in  this  respect.  In  some 
of  those  which  are  operated  after  daylight  electric  lights  are  used.  Re- 
gard is  usually  had  for  the  safety  of  employes  in  factories,  a  fire-escape 
being  seen  in  almost  all  of  them. 

Operatives  in  almost  every  branch  of  industry  aspire  to  become  pro- 
prietors or  employers  themselves,  and  the  facility  with  which  this  may 
be  done  forms  the  brighest  side  of  the  life  of  the  workingman  in  New 
Zealand. 

NEW  INDUSTRIES. 

Amongst  the  new  new  industries  in  New  Zealand  may  be  mentioned 
the  manufacture  of  jewelry.  In  each  of  the  large  towns  small  jewelry 
factories  have  been  established,  and  with  a  reasonable  prospect  of  per- 
manent success.  The  annual  consumption  of  gold,  however,  in  New 
Zealand  for  this  purpose  is  estimated  not  to  exceed  10,000  ounces.  In- 
deed, the  only  method  as  yet  for  testing  the  product  of  the  gold  mines 
of  the  colony  is  from  the  quantity  entered  for  export  at  the  customs, 
&c.  Amount  of  gold  exported  dured  the  year  ended  the  31st  of  De- 
cember, 1883,  was  248,374  ounces,  valued  at  $4,708,090,  against  230,893 
ounces,  valued  at  $4,423,087.  For  the  year  1882  the  estimate  of  10,000 
ounces  for  local  consumption  may  be  regarded  as  correct  as  it  was 
given  to  me  by  the  government  statist.  The  largest  jewehy  factory 
in  the  colony  is  thatof  Mr.  Gr.  Hyndman,  at  Dunedin.  It  employs  about 
sixteen  hands.  The  gold  and  silver  used  are  brought  from  the  Thames 
gold  fields-and  even  the  tools  are  manufactured  on  the  premises. 

The  factory-  is  now  engaged  in  making  greenstone  pendants,  brooches, 
crosses,  and  ear-rings.  It  also  makes  gold  and  silver  rings,  chains, 
necklaces,  and  lockets.  The  smelting  operations  are  carried  on  in  a 
brick  furnace,  where  the  metal  receives  the  necessary  alloy.  The  metal 
is  then  hammered  into  any  form  desired. 

When  plates  are  needed  the  gold  is  placed  between  two  tempered 
steel  rollers  arranged  for  whatever  thickness  required.  Gold  wire  is 
manufactured  by  means  of  a  draw-bench.  The  iron  screw-presses  are 
worked  by  hand  and  cut  the  metal  into  various  kinds  of  patterns;  the  ■ 


LABOR  IN  AUSTRALASIA:  NEW  ZEALAND.         411 

metal  always  being  worked  cold.  About  six  or  seven  men  are  employed 
at  these  presses,  and  when  tlie  jewelry  leaves  their  hands  it  only  re- 
quires polishing-  to  be  ready  for  market. 

GREENSTONE   INIEEES. 

There  is  a  lapidary  connected  with  the  establishment,  employing  eight 
or  nine  men.  Here  a  steam-engine  is  used  to  work  the  saw  and  other 
implements  necessary  for  cutting  and  polishing  New  Zealand  green- 
stone, a  species  of  jade  found  in  various  parts  of  the  South  Island.  This 
greenstone  is  hard,  clear,  and  beautiful,  and  susceptible  of  an  exquisite 
polish.  The  natives  formerly  made  their  meres  (battle-axes)  out  of  it. 
The  process  of  cutting  and  jjolishing  the  axes  was  a  very  tedious  one, 
and  the  natives  placed  such  high  value  on  them  that  at  one  time  it  was 
very  difficult  for  a  European  to  purchase  one.  I  remember  Sir  George 
Grey  telling  me  that  when  governor  of  New  Zealand  he  saw  a  very 
beautiful  were  in  possession  of  a  Maori  chief  well  known  to  him,  and  pro- 
posed to  buy  it.  The  native,  however,  agreed  to  part  with  it  only  on 
condition  that  Sir  George  would  give  him  the  mau-of  war  that  brought 
him  to  New  Zealand.  Sir  George  told  him  that  the  ship  cost  the  Brit- 
ish Government  nearly  £100,000  sterling.  "Even  that  sum,"  said  the 
chief,  "is  not  the  equivalent  in  value  of  my  mere.^' 

The  demand  for  meres  and  other  greenstone  ornaments  is  so  great 
that  they  are  often  made  out  of  glass  in  London  and  Paris  and  sent  to 
New  Zealand,  but  the  imposture  is  easilj"  detected. 

A  well-executed  greenstone  mere,  whether  made  by  hand  or  machin- 
ery, will  sell  readily  in  New  Zealand  from  $150  to  $250. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 

1  have  beeu  aided  in  the  preparation  of  this  report  by  Mr.  Hawthorne 
Hill,  the  able  and  scholarly  journalist  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  who  has  for 
many -years  given  much  study  to  the  material  and  conditional  resources 
of  New  Zealand. 

G.  W.  GRIFFIN, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Auckland,  Neic  Zealand,  May  27th,  1884. 


POLYNESIA. 


HAWAIIAI^   ISLAIS^DS. 


MEPOMT  BY  CONSUL  WKINLEY,  OF  HONOLULU. 

I.  General  trades. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-four  hours  in  Honolulu. 


Occupations. 

Lowest, 

Highest. 

Average. 

BUILDING  TRADES. 

$24  00 
10  00 
18  00 
10  00 
12  00 
9  00 
24  00 
15  00 
24  00 
6  00 

15  00 
24  00 

16  00 
24  00 
15  00 
12  00 
10  50 
15  00 

2  00 
2  00 
18  00 

$36  00 
12  00 
30  00 
12  00 
42  00 
15  00 
24  00 
15  00 
24  00 
35  00 
27  00 
24  00 

30  00 
30  00 
20  (M 
20  00 
15  00 
24  00 

3  00 

3  00 

20  00 

$30  00 

11  00 

24  00 

11  00 

27  00 

12  00 

24  00 

15  00 

24  00 

10  50 

21  00 

24  00 

OTHER  TRADES. 

23  00 

27  00 

17  50 

16  00 

12  75 

19  50 

Drivers  : 

2  50 

2  50 

19  00 

24  09 

18  00 
3  00 
25  00 
7  00 
12  00 
12  00 
18  00 
15  00 

20  00 
6  00 
25  00 
40  00 
27  00 
12  00 
25  00 
12  00 

19  00 

4  00 

25  00 

23  50 

19  05 

12  00 

21  50 

18  00 

III.  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works. 

Wages  paid  per  week  of  fifty-three  hours  in  fouidries,  machine- slwps,  and  iron  works  in 
Honolulu,  Hawaiian  Islands. 


Occupations. 


Foundry : 

Loam  molders 

Giet'D  sand  molders  . 

Core-makers 

Fiirnaremeu 

White  helpers 

Chippors 

Native  helpers 

412 


Lowest. 

Highest. 

$30  00 
27  00 
25  50 
19  .50 
15  00 
18  00 
8  00 

$36  00 

18  00 

12  00 

LABOR    IN    POLYNESIA:    HAWAIIAN    ISLANDS.  413 

Wages  paid  per  toeek  of  fifty-three  hours  in  foundries,  cjc. — Contiuucd. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Boiler-shop : 

Boiler  riveters 

Boiler  ralkcrs 

BoiltT  lielpprs 

Rivet  beaters 

Blacksmiths 

Pattem-ahop  pattern-makers. 
Machine-Hhop  : 

Lathe  hands    

Machine  hands 

Fitters  and  erectors 

Native  helpers 

Brass  turners 

Blacksmiths 

Blacksmiths'  helpers 


$25  50 
25  50 
10  00 

7  00 
27  00 
27  00 

24  00 
21  OQ 
24  00 

8  00 
27  00 
27  00 
12  00 


$30  00 
30  00 

12  00 
8  00 

36 '66 

33  00 
27  00 
30  00 

13  00 


33  00 
18  Ou 


$27  75 

27  75 

11  00 

7  50 

27  00 
31  50 

28  50 
24  00 
30  00 
10  50 
27  00 
30  00 
15  00 


VI.  Railway  employes. 

Wages  paid  to  railway  einployen  {those  engaged  about  stations,  as  well  as  those  engaged  on 
the  engines  and  cars,  linemen,  railroad  laborers,  <fc. )  on  Hauaiian  Railroad  Company. 


Occnpations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Superintendent per  year . 

Book-keeper do  . . 

Conductor    do... 

Enjiine  drivers do. .. 

Section  ovei seers do  .. 

Section  laboi-ers per  day. 

Warehouse  and  yard  overseer per  year . 

Biakenien per  month. 

Waieliouse  laborers per  day. 

Carpenters do... 


$900  00 
40  00 


$60  00 


4  00 


$3,  000  00 

1,  500  00 

1,  000 

00 

1,200 

00 

900 

00 

1 

00 

50 

00 

1 

50 

VII.  Ship-yards  and  shipbuilding. 

Wages  paid  per  day  of  nine  hours  in  ship-yards. 


Occupations. 


Average 
wages. 


<!arpenters. 
Calkers  .... 


$5  00 
5  00 


VII.  Seamen's  wages. 

Wages  paid  per  month  to  seamen  (officers  and  men),  distinguishing  between  ocean,  coant,  and 
river  navigation,  and  betwien  sail  and  steam. 


Occupations. 


OCRAN    STEAMRR8. 


Lowest. 


Masters $100  00 


Mates 

Stewards 

Cooks     

Seamen 

JEnfrincers 

AssistJint  engineers. 
Firemen 


COASTING   STEAMlcas. 


jidastera 
Mates  ... 


50  00 
50  00 
40  00 
15  00 
100  00 
40  00 
20  00 


100  00 
40  00 


Highest. 


$250  00 
100  00 
90  00 
60  00 
30  00 
150  00 
80  00 
35  00 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


COA8TI.VG    STEAMERS — Cont'd. 


Siewards 

Cooks  

Engineers 

Assistant  engineers. 

Firemen 

Seamen 


SAILING  VESSELS. 


''I  Masters. . . 

li  Mates    ... 

150  00  I    Cooks  .... 

60  00      Stewards. 


$30  00 
30  00 
75  no 
30  00 
20  00 
15  00 


40  00 
30  00 
40  00 
25  00 


Highest. 


^.W  00 
50  00 

150  00 
GO  00 
30  00 
28  00 


125  OO 
50  00 
50  00 
.lO  l»0 


414  LABOR    IN    POLYNESIA:    HAWAIIAN    ISLANDS. 

XI.  Agricultural  wages. 

Wages  paid  ^cr  week  to  agricultural  laborers  and  household  (^country)  servants  in  Honolulu. 


Occupations. 


Cook 

Steward . . . 
Coachman 
Gardener. 


Highest. 


Average. 


$7  00  $6  00 

5  00  4  00 
7  00  6  00 

6  00  5  00 


XIII.  Government  departments  and  offices. 

Wages  paid  per  month   to  employSs  in   Goiiernmenl  departments  and  offices,  exclusive  of 

tradesmen  and  laborers. 


Occupations. 


Lowest. 


Highest. 


Average. 


Secretaries  and  chief  clerks  of  departments. 

Associate  clerks 

Jailer  of  Oahn  prison 

Superintendent  of  public  works 

Superintendent  of  water-works 

Clerk  to  superintendent  of  water-works 

Postuiaster-general 

Civil  engineer 

Collector-general  of  customs 

Deputy  collector-general  of  customs 

Marshal  of  the  Kingdom 

Collectors  at  other  ports 

Deputy  marshal 

Captain  of  police 

Sheriffs 

Interpreter : 

Hawaiian 

Chinese 


$50  00 


$150  00 


83  33J 


125  00 


208  33i 


$250  00 

100  00 

150  00 

250 

00 

125 

00 

83  331 

333 

33+ 

333 

33+ 

333 

33+ 

208 

33+ 

333 

33+ 

208 

33+ 

100 

00 

166  66$ 

125  00 

XY.  Printers  and  printing  offices. 

statement  showing  the  wages  paid  per  week  of  nine  hours  per  day  tj  printers  {compositors, 
pressmen,  proof-readers,  ^-c. ). 


Occupations. 

Lowest. 

Highest. 

Average. 

$30  00 
30  00 
20  00 

$20  00 

$25  00 

20  00 

United  States  Consulate, 

Honolulu,  May  5,  1884. 


D.  A.  Mckinley, 

Consul. 


LABOR  IN  POLYNESIA:  SAMOA.  415 

SAMOA. 

REPORT  BY  COXSUL  CAXISIUS. 

In  answer  to  the  labor  circular  of  February  15tb,  I  have  the  honor  to 
say  that  the  only  kind  of  labor  employed  in  the  Samoa  Islands  is  the 
so-called  Polynesian  contract  labor,  concerning  which  some  information 
will  be  found  in  my  annual  commercial  report  for  1883. 

The  wajTfes  of  these  plantation  laborers  average  $3  per  month,  with 
food  and  lodging.  White  carpenters  earn  from  $3  to  $4  ]}er  day.  There 
is  no  fixed  rate  of  wages  for  seamen. 

T.  CANISIUS, 

Consul. 
United  States  Consulate, 

Apia,  May  IG,  1884. 


LABOR   IN   SAMOA. 

[Extract  from  Consal  Canisius's  annual  report  for  1883.] 

As  the  resources  of  the  Samoan  group  are  developed  the  question  of 
the  labor  supply  becomes  a  more  momentous  one.  The  immense  com- 
petition for  Polynesian  labor  from  Fiji  and  Australia  is  causing  the  sup- 
ply for  Samoa  to  become  very  limited,  and  at  some  not  very  distant  day 
the  planters  will  have  to  resort  to  "  John  Chinaman"  for  aid. 

In  Samoa  there  is  only  one  firm  (German)  which  has  any  extensive 
plantations,  and  they  employ  between  eight  and  nine  hundred  laborers. 
They  keep  three  vessels  running  between  Samoa  and  the  various  groups 
whence  the  laborers  are  brought.  One  of  these  vessels  recently  re- 
turned with  only  107  men  after  having  been  out  some  months. 

The  usual  impression  on  first  seeing  the  creatures  which  one  of  these 
labor  ships  brings  is  that  they  can  never  become  good  laborers.  They 
belong  to  one  of  the  lowest  tyi)es  of  humanity,  the  greatest  cannibals 
on  earth.  They  arrive  filthy,  lazy,  and  ferocious.  They  are  comfortably 
housed,  decently  clotlied,  and  well  fed.  At  the  end  of  the  three  years  for 
which  they  are  generally  engaged,  they  are  as  unfit  to  return  to  their 
savage  homes  as  they  were  previously  to  have  contact  with  civilized 
beings. 

]Missionaries,  philanthropists,  and  others  have  denounced  in  unmeas- 
ured terms  the  horrible  outrages  of  the  labor  trafiic,  indiscriminately 
accusing  all  nationalities  of  the  guilt.  While  it  is  doubtless  true  that 
many  outrages  have  been  committed,  it  is  equally  true  that  they  have 
in  many  instances  been  greatly  exaggerated.  If  one  looks  at  both 
sides  of  the  question  one  cannot  but  thiuk  that  the  "  slavery  "  so  much 
denounced  by  those  persons  must  finally  turn  out  to  be  a  blessing.  To 
»  be  convinced  of  this  one  has  only  to  compare  the  difference  in  the  as- 
pect of  these  cannibal  Polynesian  laborers  when  they  arrive  on  the 
l^lantations  and  when  they  depart  for  their  island  homes. 

The  laborers  are  paid  in  "trade,"  consisting  generally  of  clothing, 
tobacco,  knives,  axes,  guns,  powder,  shot,   and   man}-   other   articles 


416  LABOR  IN'  POLYNESIA:  SAMOA. 

wbicli  savage  races  prize.  During  their  three  years'  service  od  the 
plaiitiitions  these  ignorant  savages  learn  the  white  man's  method  of 
cultivating  the  soil  Jind  become  acquainted  with  the  use  of  man.y  valu- 
able ])lants.  Their  food  consists  for  the  most  part  of  such  things  as 
can  be  grown  on  the  plantation,  such  as  bananas,  bread-fruit,  yams,  and 
cocoanuts,  besides  which  they  have  an  allowance  of  rice,  corn  meal, 
beans,  salt  meat  or  tish.  They  are  also  allowed  to  help  themselves  to 
various  kinds  of  fruits  and  roots  which  grow  wild  on  the  plantations 
and  in  the  forests. 


IT<  DEX. 

CONTINENT    OF    AMEKICA. 
DOITIIWION  OF  CAIVADA. 

PBOVIi'VCE   OF  ONTARIO. 

Pa  SB 
Amherstburg:  Report  by  Consul  Turner 1-4 

(Wages:  General  trades,  1;  factories,  mills,  &c.,2;  foundries,  machine- 
shops,  and  iron  works,  2;  railway  employes,  2;  seamen's  wages,  3: 
store  and  shop  wages,  3  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  3; 
agricultural  wages,  3;  Government  departments  and  oflQces,  3:  print- 
ers and  printing  offices,  4.) 

Belleville  :  Report  by  Consul  Prince 4-12 

(The  civil  service  in  Canada,  5;  superannuation,  7.  Wages:  Gen- 
eral trades,  9;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  10;  rail- 
way employes,  10;  stor,  and  shop  wages,  11:  household  wages  in 
towns  and  cities,  11 ;  agricultural  wages,  11 ;  corporation  employes, 
11 ;  government  departments  and  offices,  12 ;  trades  and  labor — 
Government  employ,  12;  printers  and  printing  offices,  12.) 

(  liailiam:  Report  by  Commercial  Agent  Buffington 12-20 

(  Kates  of  wages,  12  ;  the  cost  of  living,  13;  wages  past  and  present,  13 ; 
habits  of  the  working  classes,  14  ;  feeling  between  employer  and 
employ^,  14  ;  labor  organizations,  14  ;  strikes  and  their  effects,  14  ; 
freedom  of  purchase,  15 ;  payment  of  labor,  15 ;  co-operative  socie- 
ties, 15;  general  condition,  15;  safety 'of  employes,  15;  political 
rights,  16 ;  emigration,  16 ;  female  labor,  16  ;  general  summary,  17. 
Wages:  General  trades,  17 ;  factories,  mills,  «S:c.,  18;  foundries, 
machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  18 ;  railway  employes,  18 ;  store 
and  shop  wages,  19 ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  19 ;  ag- 
ricultural wages,  19 ;  corporation  employes,  19  ;  Government  de- 
partments and  offices,  20;  printersjand  printing  offices,  20.) 

Ihuiiilton  :  Report  by  Consul  Hazleton 20-2K 

(Acknowledgments,  20;  cost  of  living,  21  ;  wages  past  and  present,  21 ; 
habits  of  the  working  classes,  22  ;  feeling  between  emitloyer  and 
employ6,  22;  labor  organizations,  22;  strikes,  food  purchases, 
and  co-operation,  22 :  general  condition  of  the  working  classes, 
22;  safety  of  employes,  22;  political  rights,  23;  causes  of  emigra- 
tion, 23;  feriiale  labor,  23.  Wages:  General  trades,  24 ;  factories, 
mills,  &c.,  25  ;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  25;  glass- 
workers,  26;  railway  employes,  26;  store  and  shop  wages,  26; 
household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  26  ;  agricultural  wages,  27; 
corporationjemployds,  27;  Government^departnients  and  offices,  27 
printers  and  printing  offices,  28.) 

92  A— 2  LAB 27  417 


418  INDEX. 

Page. 

Kingston:  Report  by  Consul Twitchell 28-34 

(Wages:  General  trades,  20 ;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  29  ;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  iron  works,  2'J ;  mines  and  mining,  30  ;  railway 
employes,  30;  ship-yards  and  ship-building,  30;  seamen's  wages, 
31;  store  and  shop  wages,  31;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities, 
31 ;  agricultural  wages,  31 ;  corporation  employ68,  32  ;  Govern- 
ment departments  and  offices,  32  ;  printers  and  printing  offices,  32 ; 
cost  of  living,  33 ;  wages  past  and  present,  33  ;  habits  of  the  work- 
ing classes,  33  ;  feeling  between  employer  and  employ^,  33  ;  organ- 
ization of  labor,  33  ;  strikes,  33  ;  food  purchases,  33  ;  co-operative 
societies,  33;  general  condition  of  the  working  classes,  33;  safety 
of  employes,  34  ;  political  rights,  34;  emigration,  34.) 

Ottawa  :  Report  by  Commercial  Agent  Robbins 34  37 

(The  Dominion  Government,  34  ;  official  salaries,  35  ;  corporation  em- 
ployes, 35  ;  condition  of  laboring  people  in  Ottawa,  36  ;  food  and 
raiment,  36;  various  occupations,  36.     Wages:  General  trades,  37. ) 

Port  Hope :  Report  by  Commercial  Agent  Dutcher :J.S-41 

(Wages:  General  trades,  39;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  .'^9;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  irou  works,  39;  railway  employes,  40;  seamen's 
wages,  40;  store  and  shop  wages,  40;  household  wages  in  towns 
and  cities,  40;  agricultural  wages,  41;  corporation  employes,  41 ; 
Government  departments  and  offices,  41 ;  printers  and  jirintii  g 
offices,  41.) 

Port  Rowan  :  Report  by  Commercial  Agent  Janes 42-44 

(Wages:  General  trades,  42  ;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  42  ;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  irou  works,  42 ;  railway  employes,  43 ;  seamen's 
wages,  43;  store  and  shop  wages,  43;  household  wag«s  in  towns 
and  cities,  43  ;  agricultural  wages,  43  ;  corporation  employe8,J[44  ; 
printers  and  printing  offices,  44.) 

Port  Samia :  Report  by  Consul  Pace 44-47 

(Description  of  district,  44  ;  rates  of  wages,  44  ;  cost  of  living,  44 ;  wages 
past  and  present,  45  ;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  45  ;  feeling  be- 
tween employer  and  employ^,  45;  organization  of  labor,  45;  the 
prevalency  of  strikes,  46;  food  purchases,  46;  co-operative  socie- 
ties, 46 ;  general  condition  of  woi king  people,  46;  political  rights, 
46;  emigration,  46.     Wages:  General  trades,  47.) 

Prescott :  Report  by  Consul  Slaght l.i-51 

(Wages:  General  trades,  48;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  49;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  irou  works,  49;  railway  employes,  49;  seamen's 
wages,  50 ;  store  and  shop  wages,  50  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and 
cities,  50 ;  agricultural  wages,  50;  cori^oration  employes,  50 ;  Govern- 
ment departments  and  offices,  51 ;  printers  and  printing  offices,  51.) 

h  Jicrbrook  :  Report  by.  Consul  Parker 5 1-56 

(Business  depression,  51  ;  area  and  division  of  labor,  .52  ;  cost  of  living, 
52.  Wages:  General  trades,  53  ;  factories,  mills,  «&c.,  54  ;  foundries,  • 
machine-shops,  and  irou  works,  55 ;  mines  and  miuiug,  .55  ;  railway 
employes,  55 ;  store  and  shop  wages,  55 ;  household  wages  in  towns 
and  cities,  56;  agricultural  wages,  56;  corporation  employes,  .56; 
printers  and  printing  offices,  56.) 

Stratford:  Report  by  Consular  Agent  Benedict 57-60 

(Wages:  General  trades,  57 ;  factories,  mills,  4&c.,  57;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  iron  works,  58  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  58  ;  house- 
hold wages  in  towns  and  cities,  59;  agricultural  wages,  59  ;  corpo- 
ration employes,  59;  Goverument  departments  aud  offices,  60; 
printers  aud  printing  offices,  60.) 


INDEX.  419 

Paire. 

Toronto  :  Report  by  Consul  Howard »i0-73 

(Rate  of  wages,  60;  cost  of  liviug,  60;  coniparisou  of  wages,  61;  hab- 
its of  the  working  classes,  62;  enii)loye  and  employer,  62;  labor 
organization,  63;  liberty  of  trade,  63;  co-operative  .societies,  64; 
general  condition  of  the  working  people,  64  ;  means  of  safety,  65; 
general  relations  between  men,  56;  political  rights,  66 ;  emigra- 
tion, 66;  female  labor,  66;  wages,  66;  hours  of  labor,  66;  moral 
and  physical  condition,  67;  sanitary  measures,  67;  wages  of  wo- 
men, 67;  education,  67  ;  effects  of  employment,  67  ;  conclusion,  68. 
Wages:  General  trades, 68  ;  factories,  mills,  «fec.,  69;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  iron  works,  70;  railway  employes,  70;  seamen's 
wages,  70;  store  and  shop  wages,  70;  household  wages  in  towns 
and  cities,  71 ;  agricultural  wages,  71 ;  corporation  employes,  71 ; 
Government  departments  and  oflSces,  72  ;  trades  and  labor — Gov- 
ernment employ,  72;  printers  and  printing  oftices,  72;  food  prices, 
73.) 

Windsor  :  Report  by  Consul  Ewers 74-79 

(Rates  of  wages,  74  ;  cost  of  living,  74;  wages  past  and  present,  74; 
habits  of  the  working  classes,  74 ;  feeling  between  employer  and 
employ^,  75;  labor  organizations,  75  ;  strikes,  75;  food  purchases, 
75;  co-operative  societies,  75;  general  condition  of  the  working 
people,  75;  safety  of  employes,  76;  political  rights,  76;  emigra- 
tion, 76  ;  female  labor,  76 ;  Wages :  General  trades,  77  ;  factories, 
mills,  &c.,  77  ;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  78  ;  rail- 
way emidoyd.s,  78;  store  and  shop  wages,  78;  agricultural  wages, 
78;  corporation  employes,  79;  Government  departments  and  offices, 
79;  printing  and  printing  offices,  79.) 

PROVIIVl'E     OF     QUEBEC 

Montreal:  Report  by  Consul-Gcneral  Stearns 79-94 

(AVages  past  and  present,  79 ;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  80  ;  feeling 
between  employer  and  employe,  81 ;  labor  organization,  81 ;  strikes, 
81;  food  purchases,  81;  co-operative  societies,  81;  general  con- 
dition of  the  working  classes,  82  ;  safety  of  employes,  82  ;  causes 
of  emigration,  83;  number  of  employed  females,  83;  wages  and 
hours  of  labor,  83  ;  moral  and  physical  condition  of  female  em- 
ployes, 83  ;  female  wages  past  and  present,  84 ;  education  of  female 
employes,  84.  Wages :  General  trades,  84 ;  factories,  mills,  &.C.,  86 ; 
foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  86  ;  railway  employes, 
87  ;  seamen's  wages,  87 ;  store  and  shop  wages,  88 ;  househoM 
wages  in  towns  and  cities,  88;  agricultural  wages,  88;  corporation 
employes,  89;  Government  departments  atid  offices,  90;  printers 
and  printing  offices,  90  ;  recapitulation,  91 ;  prices  of  the  necessaries 
t.f  life, 92.) 

Saint  Hy acini  ho  :  Report  by  Commercial  Agent  Smiih 95,96 

(Wages:  Laborers,  95.) 
Three  Rivers  :  Report  by  Consul  Wilson 96-'.  8 

(Wages:  General  tn.des,  97.) 


420  INDEX. 


PROVIIV«J£    OF    IVEM     BRVIVSWICK. 

Page. 

.Saiut  Johu  :  Report  by  Consul  Warner 98-lM 

(Rates  of  wages,  98  ;  habite  of  the  working  classes,  i^S  ;  organized  con- 
dition of  labor,  98 ;  general  condition  of  the  working  classes,  99 ; 
causes  leading  to  emigration,  100;  female  labor,  100;  moral  and 
physical  condition,  100.  Wages:  General  trades,  101;  factories, 
mills,  (fee,  101;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  ironworks,  102; 
railway  employes,  102 ;  ship-yards  and  ship-building,  102;  seamen's 
wages,  103  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  103 ;  household  wages  in  towns 
and  cities,  103;  agricultural  wages,  103;  corporation  employes, 
104;  Government  departments  and  ofifices,  104;  printers  and  print- 
ing offices,  104.) 

PROVUVCE     OF     IVOVA    SCOTIA. 

Halifax:  Report  by  Consul-GSeneral  Fi"ye 105-111 

(Wages:  General  trades,  105;  general  wage  explanations,  107;  cost 
of  living,  108;  wages  past  and  present,  108;  habits  of  the  working 
classes,  108  ;  feeling  between  employer  and  employ^,  108  ;  organized 
condition  of  labor,  108;  strikes,  109;  food  purchases,  109;  co-operat- 
ive societies,  109;  general  condition  of  the  working  people,  109; 
safety  of  employes,  109;  political  rights,  110;  emigration,  110;  fe- 
male labor,  110;  acknowledgments.  111.) 

PRINCE     FOWARD    ISLAND. 

Prince  Edward's  Island:  Report  by  Consul  Worden,  of  Charlottetown 111-115 

(Cost  of  living.  111;  condition  of  the  laboring  classes,  112.  Wages: 
General  trades,  112;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  113;  foundries,  machine- 
ships,  and  iron  works,  113;  railway  employes,  114;  ship-yards  and 
ship-building,  114;  seamen's  wages,  114  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  114  ; 
householdjwages  in  towns  and  cities,  114  ;  agricultural  wages,  115; 
corporation  employes,  115;  Government  departments  and  offices, 
115;  trades  and  labor — Government  employ,  115  ;  printers  and  print- 
ing offices,  115.) 

MEXICO. 

Mexico^:  Report  by  Consul-General  Strother 116-139 

(Male  labor,  116;  cost  of  living,  116;  past  and  present  wages,  117; 
habits  of  the  working  classes,  117  ;  feeling  between  employer  and 
employe?,  118;  orgauized  condition  of  labor,  118;  the  prevalency 
of  strikes,  118 ;  freedom  of  food  purchases,  119 ;  safety  of  employes, 
119;  political  rights  of  workiugmen,  120;  emigration,  120  ;  female 
labor,  120  ;  female  wages  and  hours  of  labor,  121 ;  moral  and  physi- 
cal condition,  121;  ^last  and  present  wages,  121 ;  female  education, 
121.  Wages :  General  trades,  122  ;  factories,  mills,  »fec.,  123 ;  found- 
ries, machine-shops,  and  ironworks,  123;  glass-workers,  124; 
mines  and  mining,  124;  railway  employ68,  124;  store  and  shop 
wages,  124  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  125  ;  agricultural 
wages,  125;  corporation  employes,  125;  Government  departments 
and  offices,  125  ;  trades  and  labor — Government  employ,  126 ;  print- 
ers and  printing  offices,  126;  civil  and  military  salaries,  126.) 


INDEX.  421 

Vase. 

Lower  California  :  Report  by  Consul  Lambert,  for  San  Bias,  Guadalajara, 

and  Tequila 140- 14»; 

(San  Bias,  140:  Difficulty  in  procurinfi  labor  statistics,  140  ;  habits  and 
condition  of  the  laborers,  140.  (iuadalajara,  141  :  Industries,  141  ; 
rates  of  wages,  141 ;  food  prices,  142.  Tequila,  142:  Labor  in  Lower 
California  and  in  the  United  States,  142;  rates  of  wages,  14.'}.  San 
Bias:  Wages:  General  trades,  143;  factories, mills,  »tc.,  in  Tepic 
and  Santiago,  144;  mines  and  mining  in  Tepic  and  Guadalajara, 
144  ;  seamen's  wages  in  San  Bias,  144  ;  store  and  shop  wages  in  San 
Bias,  144  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities  in  San  Bias,  14.5  ; 
agricultural  wages  in  San  Bias.  145;  corporati<.n  employes  in  Gua- 
dalajara, 145;  Government  departments  and  offices  in  San  Bias, 
146;  printers  and  printing  offices,  14(i.) 

La  Paz :  Report  by  Consul  Viosca 14ti-M9 

(Wages:  General  trades,  147 ;  mines  and  mining,  147;  ship-yards  and 
ship-building,  147  ;  seamen's  wages,  148  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  148 ; 
household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  148  ;  agricultural  wages,  149; 
Government  departments  and  offices,  149 ;  printers  and  printing 
offices,  149.) 

Nuevo  Leon:  Report  by  Consul  Campbell,  of  Monterey 149-1.'.:? 

(Principal  industries,  149  ;  rates  of  wages,  150  ;  cost  of  living  and  food, 
150;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  150;  strikes,  150;  food  pur- 
chases, 150;  general  condition  of  the  working  classes,  150;  Mon- 
tery  street  railway,  151 ;  fiictories,  mills,  &c.,  152  ;  mines  and  min- 
ing, 152;  store  and  shop  wages,  152  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and 
cities,  152  ;  printers  and  printing  offices,  1.52  ;  agricultural  wages, 
153.) 

Sonora  :  Report  by  Consul  Willard,  of  Guaymas 1.53-ir.S 

(Sonora,  its  people  and  industries,  153  ;  rates  of  wages  and  cost  of  liv- 
ing, 153  ;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  154  ;  feeling  between  em- 
ployer and  eniploye,  154;  hours  of  labor,  154  ;  political  rights,  154  ; 
emigration,  154;  railroads  and  revolution,  154;  women  laborers, 
lc5;  foreign  laborers  in  Sonora,  155.  Wages:  General  trades,  155; 
railway  employ<?8,  1.56 ;  mines  and  mining,  156  ;  seamen's  wages, 
1.56;  store  and  shop  wages,  156;  household  wages  in  towns  and 
cities,  157  ;  agricultural  wages,  157  ;  corporation  employes,  157  ; 
printers  and  printing  offices,  157  ;  necessaries  of  life,  1.58.) 

Matamoros:  Report  by  Consul-General  Sutton 1.58-li  1 

(Wages:  General  trades,  158;  railway  employ68,  159;  store  and  shop 
wages,  159  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  159  ;  agricultural 
wages,  159 ;  corporation  employes,  160 ;  Government  departments 
and  offies,  160;  printers  and  printing  offices,  161.) 

BRITISH    HONDURAS. 

British  Honduras  :  Report  by  Consul  Morlan,  of  Belize I61-li'i8 

(Rates  of  wages,  161;  cost  of  living,  161;  food  prices,  162;  wages  past 
and  present,  163;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  163;  feeling  be- 
tween employer  and  employe?,  163;  labor  organization  and  strik»*s, 
163  ;  food  purchases  and  co-operative  societies,  163  ;  general  condi- 
tion of  the  working  classes,  164;  safety  of  employees,  164;  politi- 
cal rights,  164 ;  emigation,  164 ;  female  labor,  164  ;  women  ami 
children  employed,  164  ;  female  wages,  165  ;  uu)ral  and  physical 
«ondition  of  female  employ6s,  165;  safety  and  care  of  female  em- 


'422  iNi.FX. 

■Britisli  Honduras:  Report  by  Consul  Morlan,  of  Belize — Contiuued. 

ploy^s,  165  ;  female  wages  past  and  present,  165  ;  female  education, 
165 ;  proposed  immigration  from  the  United  States,  165.  Wages : 
General  trades,  166 ;  ship-yards  and  ship-building,  166 ;  seamen's 
wages,  167  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  167  ;  household  wages  in  towns 
and  cities,  167  ;  agricultural  and  wood-cutting  wages,  167  ;  Govern- 
ment departments  and  offices,  168  ;  trades  and  labor — Government 
employ,  168;  printers  and  printing  offices,  168.) 

s  o  TJ  T  H  .^m:p:kica. 
UJVITED    STATES   OF    COLOlllBIA. 

Ban  auquilla  :  Report  by  Consul  Dawson 1 69-1 77 

(Wages:  General  trades,  169;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  170;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  iron  works,  170;  glass-workers,  171;  mines  and 
mining,  171  ;  railway  employes,  171 ;  ship-yards  and  ship-building, 
171;  seamen's  wages,  172;  store  and  shop  wages,  172;  household 
wages  in  towns  and  cities,  172  ;  agricultural  wages,  172 ;  corpora- 
tion employes,  173;  Government  departments  and  offices,  173;  print-  , 
ers  and  printing  offices,  173 ;  cost  of  living,  173 ;  wages  past  and 
present,  173 ;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  173 ;  feeling  between 
employe  and  employer,  174 ;  organized  condition  of  labor,  174  ; 
prevalency  of  strikes,  174  ;  food  purchases,  174  ;  co-operative  so- 
cieties, 174  ;  general  condition  of  the  working  people,  174  ;  a  Bar- 
ranquilla  mason's  statement,  175  ;  relations  between  employer  and 
employ^,  176;  political  rights,  176;  female  labor,  176;  the  Colom- 
bian workingmeu,  176.) 

Medellin  :  Rejiort  by  Consul  Esmond 177-183 

(Rates  of  wages,  177  ;  cost  of  living,  177  ;  wages  past  and  present,  178 ; 
habits  of  the  working  classes,  178  ;  feeling  between  employer  and 
employ^,  178;  food  purchases,  178;  co-operative  societies,  «fec., 
178;  general  condition  ot  the  working  classes,  179;  statement  of 
a  workingraan,  179  ;  safety  of  employes,  180  ;  political  rights,  180  ; 
causesof  emigration,  180;  female  labor,  180.  Wages:  General  trades, 

•  181;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  182;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron 

works,  182;  mines  and  mining,  182;  store  and  shop  wages,  183; 
household  wages  in  towns  and  citir-s,  183;  agricultural  wages,  183.) 

VENEZUELA. 

La  Guayra  :  Report  by  Consul  W.  S.  Bird 133-188 

(Male  labor,  183;  cost  of  living,  183;  wages  past  and  present,  184;  habits 
of  the  working  classes,  184;  feeling  between  employer  and  employ6, 
184;  labor  organizations  and  strikes,  184  ;  pay  and  food  purchases, 
184;  general  condition  of  the  laboring  classes,  185;  political  rights, 
185;  female  labor,  185.  Wages:  General  trades,  185;  factories,  mills, 
&c.,  186;  railway  employes,  186;  seamen's  wages,  187;  store  and 
shop  wages,  187  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  187 ;  agri- 
cultural wages,  187 ;  corporation  employt^s,  188 ;  trades  and  labor — 
Government  employ,  188  ;  printers  and  printing  offices,  188.) 

Mararaibo  :  Report  by  Consul  Plumacher 188-195 

(Cost  of  living,  189;  wages  past  and  present,  189;  habits  of  the  work- 
ing classes,  189;  labor  organizations,  189;  food  purchases,  189;  fe- 
male  labor,   189.     Wages:   General    trades,   190;    factories,  mills. 


rxDHx.  423 

Page. 

Maracaibo  :   Rejiort  by  Consul  Phimaclier — Continued. 

&c.,  190;  foundries,  niacliine-shops,  and  ironworks,  191;  glass- 
workers,  191  ;  mines  and  niiniuji,  191  ;  railway  employes,  191  ;  ship- 
yards and  ship-building,  192  ;  seamen's  wages,  192;  store  and  shop 
wages,  193;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  193;  agricul- 
tural wages,  194;  corporation  employes,  194;  Goverunieut  depart- 
ments and  offices,  194  :  trades  and  labor  in  Government  employ, 
194;  printers  and  printing  offices,  195.) 

Pti.-rto  Cabello:  Report  by  Consul  White ]!t(i-'201 

(How  the  working  classes  live,  196;  wages  past  and  present,  196;  habits 
of  the  working  classes,  196;  feeliugbetween  employer  and  employ^, 
196;  food  purchases,  197  ;  general  condition  of  the  working  people, 
197  ;  female  labor,  197  ;  number  of  female  employes,  197 ;  moral 
and  physical  condition  of  female  employ6s,  197 ;  acknowledg- 
ments, 198.  Wages:  General  trades,  198;  factories,  mills,  &c., 
199 ;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  199 ;  seamen's 
wages,  199  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  199;  household  wages  in  towns  - 
and  cities,  199  ;  agricultural  wages,  "200;  corporation  employes,  200; 
Government  departments  and  offices,  201 ;  trades  and  labor — Gov- 
ernment employ,  201.) 

BRITISH    GUIANA. 

British  Guiana  :  Report  by  Consul  Figyelmesy 202-219 

(Cost  of  living,  202 ;  wagespast  and  present,  202  ;  habits  of  the  working 
classes,  203 ;  feeling  between  employer  and  employ^,  203 ;  organ- 
ized condition  of  labor,  203;  food  jiurchases,  203;  co-operative  so- 
cieties, 203  ;  general  condition  of  the  working  classes,  203  ;  safety 
of  employes,  204  ;  moral  and  physical  well-being,  204 ;  political 
rights,  204;  causes  of  immigration,  204 ;  number  of  female  eui- 
ploy6s,  204  ;  female  wages,  204  :  moral  and  physical  condition  of 
female  employ6s,  205  :  means  for  improvement,  205  ;  safety  of  em- 
ployes, 205  ;  care  of  sick  and  disabled,  205  ;  female  wages  past  and 
present,  205;  female  education,  205.  Wages:  General  trades,  206 ; 
factories,  mills,  &c.,  206;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron 
works,  206;  railway  employes,  207;  ship-yards  and  ship-building, 
207;  seamen's  wages,  207;  store  and  shop  wages,  207;  household 
wages  in  towns  and  cities,  207;  agricnltural  wages,  208;  corpora- 
tion employes,  208;  government  departments  and  offices,  209 ;  Gov- 
ernment institutions,  209  ;  trades  and  labor — Government  employ, 
209  :  jirinters  and  printing  offices,  210.) 

BRAZIL. 

Kio  de  Janeiro:  Report  by  Consul-Geucral  Andrews 210-282 

(Rates  of  wages,  210;  cost  of  living,  210  ;  wages  past  and  present,  211 ; 
habits  of  the  working  classes,  211;  feeling  between  employer  and 
employ^,  212;  labor  organizations,  212;  strikes,  212;  food  pur- 
chases, 212;  co-operative  societies,  212;  general  condition  of  the 
working  classes,  212  ;  a  laborer's  statement,  213  ;  safety  of  employes, 
213;  political  rights, 213;  causes  of  emigration,  214;  number  of 
female  enii)loy<5s,  214  ;  female  wage  rates,  214  ;  moral  and  i)hysical 
condition,  214;  means  of  improvement,  215;  safety  of  female  em- 
l)loyds,  215  ;  provisions  for  sick  and  disabled,  215 ;  effects  of  women's 
employment,  215  ;  stale  of  female  education, 215.     Wages:  General 


424  INDKX. 


Page. 


Rio  de  Janiero  :  Report  by  Corsul-Goneral  Andrews— Coutimied. 

trades,  216;  factories,  mills,  dec, 217;  foundries,  machine-shoiis, 
and  iron  works,  217  ;  glass-workers,  218;  mines  and  mining,  218  ; 
railway  emp]oy6s,  218 ;  ship-yards  and  ship-builtiing,  219  ;  seamen's 
wages,  219 ;  store  and  shop  wages,  219  ;  agricultural  wages,  219 ; 
household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  220;  corporation  employes, 
220;  Government  departments  and  offices,  220 ;  trades  and  labor, 
Government  employ,  221 ;  printers  and  printing  offices,  222.) 

Pemambuco :  Report  by  Consul  Atherton 223-226 

(Cost  of  living,  223;  habits  of  the  working  class,  223;  prevalency  of 
strikes,  223  ;  general  condition  of  the  working  classes,  223 ;  political 
rights,  223.  Wages  :  General  trades,  224  ;  factories,  mills,  &c., 
^22?> :  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  225  ;  railway  em- 
ploy6s,  225 ;  seamen's  wages,  225  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and 
cities,  225  ;  agricultural  wages,  226 ;  Government  departments  and 
©ffices,  226:  trades  and  labor— Government  employ,  226.) 

FALKLAIVD  ISLAIVDS. 

Falkland  Islands  :  Report  by  Consul  Lasar,  of  Port  Stanley 227, 228 

(Wages:  General  trades, 227;  ship-yards  and  ship-building,  227 ;  sea- 
men's wages,  227  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  227  ;  household  wages  in 
towns  and  cities,  228  ;  Government  departments  and  offices,  228  ; 
trades  and  labor — Government  employ,  228.) 

PERU. 

Peru  :  Report  by  Acting  Consul  Brent,  of  Callao 228-237 

(Unsatisfactory  condition  of  affairs,  228;  hopeful  outlook,  229; 
wages  and  cost  of  living,  2.^9  ;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  230  ; 
feeling  between  employer  and  employ6, 231 ;  organization  of  labor, 
231;  strikes,  231;  food  purchase,  231 ;  co-operative  societies,  2.32; 
safety  of  employes,  232 ;  coolie  labor  in  Pern,  232  ;  political  rights, 
232;  emigration,  232;  female  labor  in  Peru,  232.  Wages:  General 
trades,  233:  factories,  mills,  &c.,  234  ;  foundries,  machine-shops, 
and  iron  works,  234 ;  mines  and  mining,  234  ;  railway  employes, 
235 ;  seamen's  wages,  235  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  235  ;  household 
wages  in  towns  and  cities,  236;  agricultural  wages,  236;  corpora- 
tion employes,  236 ;  Government  departments  and  offices,  237 ; 
printers  and  printing  offices,  237.) 

ECUADOR. 

Ecuador  :  Report  by  Consul  Beach,  of  Guayaquil 237-243 

(Conditions  in  Lower  and  Ui)per  Ecuador,  237  ;  cost  of  living,  238  ;  hab- 
its of  the  working  classes,  239;  labor  organizations,  239;  female 
labor,  239  ;  contentment  of  the  laboring  classes,  239.  Wages  :  Gen- 
eral trades,  240;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  241;  foundries,  machine- 
shops,  and  iron  works,  241  ;  mines  and  mining,  241;  railway  em- 
ploy 68,  241  ;  ship-yards  and  ship-building,  242;  seamen's  wages, 
242;  store  and  shop  wages,  242;  household  wages  in  towns  and 
cities,  242 ;  agricultural  wages,  242 ;  corporation  employ6s,  243  ; 
Government  departments  and  offices,  243;  trades  and  labor — Gov- 
ernment employ,  243  ;  printers  and  printing  offices,  243.) 


INDEX.  425 

^WEST     INDIA.     ISLAISTDS. 
BRITISH    TVEST    IIVDIES. 

THE    BAHAMAS. 

Pa;;p. 

The  Bahamas :  Report  by  Consul  McLain •i'i4-i5© 

(The  character  of  our  labor,  '244  ;  rates  of  wages,  244 ;  trading,  245  ;  the 
cost  of  living,  246;  general  condition  of  working  people,  247;  mis- 
cellaneous information,  248;  political  rights,  248;  taxation,  248: 
emigration,  241);  population,  241);  women  employes,  249;  conclu- 
sion, 250.) 

riJRK'l^    I8L.A1VD. 

Turk's  Island :  Keport  by  Consul  Sawyer 250-256 

SPANISH  WEST  INDIES. 

CUBA. 

Ceiu/uegos  :  Report  by  Consul  Pierce 251-255 

(Wages  on  sugar  plantations,  251 ;  condition  of  agricultural  labor,  252  ; 
the  colonial  system,  253;  how  the  laborers  live,  253;  slave  labor, 
254  ;  wages  in  the  city  of  Cienfuegos,  254  ;  cost  of  living  to  city  la- 
borers, 255;  female  labor,  255.) 

Santiago  de  Cuba  :  Report  by  Consul  Landreaii 2r)tJ-2H0 

(Wages  :  General  trades,  256 ;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  257  ;  foundries,  ma- 
chine-shops, and  iron  works,  257 ;  mines  and  mining,  257  ;  railway 
employes,  258;  ship-yards  and  ship-building,  258;  seamen's  wages, 
258;  store  and  shop  wages,  258;  household  wages  in  towns  and 
cities,  258;  agricultural  wages,  258;  corporation  employes,  259; 
Government  departments  and  offices,  259;  printers  and  printing 

offices,  260.) 

SAN  Domiivoo. 

Puerto  Plata :  Report  by  Consul  Simpson 2(jO-262 

(Cost  of  living,  260 ;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  260 ;  misccellaneous, 
260;  working  people,  260;  political  rights,  261.  Wages:  General 
trades,  261 ;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  261 ;  seamen's  wages,  261  ;  store 
and  shop  wages,  262 ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  262 ; 
agricultural  wages,  262 ;  Government  departments  and  offices,  262 ; 
printers  and  printing  offices,  262.) 

CONTINENT    OF    ASIA. 

TURKEY    IN    ASIJ^. 
ASIA  MINOR. 

Smyrna  :  Report  by  Consul  Stevens 260-271 

(Want  of  statistics,  26:3  ;  explanatory,  263 ;  acknowledgments,  264  : 
rates  of  wages,  264  ;  cost  of  living,  «&,c.,  264  ;  habits  of  the  working 
classes,  265;  the  feeling  between  employd  and  employer,  265  ;  or- 
ganized labor  strikes,  «fec.,265;  co-operative  societies,  266  ;  general 
condition  of  the  working  people,  &c.,  266;  female  labor,  267;  con- 
cluding remarks,  267.  Wages :  General  trades,  268;  factories,  mills, 
&c.,  269;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  269;  mines 
and  mining,  269 ;  railway  employ6s,  269 ;  ship-yards  and  ship- 
building, 270  ;  agricultural  wages,  270  ;  printers  and  printing  of- 
fices, 270;  female  labor,  271.) 

Mytilene:  Report  by  Consular  Ageut  Fottion 271-272 

(Food  prices,  271.) 


426  INDEX. 

SYRIA. 

fage. 

Syria  :  Report  by  Consul  Robeson,  of  Beirut 273-981 

(Present  condition  of  the  laboring  classes,  273;  social  condition  of 
women,  273;  system  of  hiring  laborers,  274  ;  rates  of  wages,  274; 
cost  of  living,  274;  currency,  275;  past  and  present  wages,  275; 
habits  of  the  working  classes,  275  ;  feeling  between  employer  and 
employ^,  275;  labor  organizations,  strikes,  &c.,  275;  food  pur- 
chases, 275 :  co-operative  societies,  275 ;  general  condition  of  the 
working  classes,  275 ;  safety  of  employes,  276 ;  political  rights,  276 ; 
emigration,  276;  number  of  female  employes,  276;  female  wages, 
276  ;  hours  of  labor,  277 ;  moral  and  physical  condition,  271 ;  im- 
provement of  female  laborers,  277;  safety  of  female  employes,  277. 
Wages:  General  trades,  278;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  278;  carriage 
roads,  279  ;  native  seamen's  wages,  279 ;  store  and  shop  wages,  279 ; 
household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  279 ;  agricultural  wages,  280 ; 
corporation  employes,  280 ;  Government  departments  and  offices, 
280 ;  Government  telegraph  offices,  281 ;  printers  and  printing  of- 
fices, 281.) 

PALESTINE. 

F;i It  stiue :  Report  by  Consul  Merrill,  of  Jerusalem 281-292 

(Difficulties  under  which  the  report  is  made,  281 ;  no  basis  of  compari- 
son between  Palestine  and  the  United  States,  282 ;  character  of 
Jerusalem  and  its  inhabitants,  283 ;  people  supported  by  charity, 
283;  observations  on  the  department's  list  of  general  trades,  284  ; 
very  few  steady  employments,  284;  difficulty  of  arriving  at  "aver- 
age wages,"  285  ;  cost  of  living,  285  ;  hours  of  daily  labor  on  a  farm, 
286 ;  house  servants  and  nurses,  283 ;  large  classes  dependent  on 
travelers,  286  ;  wages  paid  by  tourist  companies,  287 ;  employ- 
ment of  dragomans,  287  ;  guards  at  the  consulates,  287  ;  wines  and 
liquors,  288;  salaries  of  teachers,  288 ;  telegraph  operators,  288; 
post-office  employes,  288;  clerks  in  stores,  289;  female  labor,  289; 
conditions  which  control  the  trade  of  Palestine,  289;  rate  of  inter- 
est and  an  indifferent  government,  290 ;  j)oor  prospect  for  American 
laborers  in  Palestine,  290;  wages  of  general  trades,  291.) 

PEKSIA. 

Pt'i>ia  :  Report  by  Consul  General  Benjamin,  of  Teheran 293-302 

(Wages:  General  trades,  294  ;  general  household  wages  in  Persia,  297 ; 
cost  of  living  to  the  laboring  class,  298 ;  iucrase  of  living  expenses, 
299;  the  Modakheel  or  commission  system,  299 ;  taxes,  299;  habits 
of  the  working  clas8es,299 ;  feeling  between  employer  and  employ^, 
300  ;  emigration,  300;  co-operative  societies,  political  rights,  &c., 
300 ;  women  workers.  300  ;  causes  of  reduction  of  wages,  300  ;  mines 
and  mining,  301  ;  female  labor,  301 ;  Persian  vs.  United  States 
money,  302.) 

J I  :niiadan  :   Re])ort  prepared  for  Consul-General  Benjamin  by  the  late  Rev. 

].'.  Y.  Hawks,  of  Hamadan 302-304 

(Male  labor,  302;  Persian  money  and  weight,  302;  prices  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  303  ;  cost  of  clothing,  303-;  cost  of  fuel,  303  ;  habits  of 
the  working  classes,  303;  feeling  between  employer  and  employ^, 
304 ;  labor  organizations,  304  ;  food  purchase  and  mode  of  payment, 
304  ;  statement  of  a  Hamadan  porter,  304.) 


INDEX.  427 

CEYLON. 

C'fjlou  :  Uei)ort  l>y  Cousul-Geiieial  Moiey,  of  Colombo ;'0o-313 

(Labor  conditions  in  Ceylon  ts.  the  United  .States,  305;  scheduled  par- 
ticulars, 30.');  how  th*e  general  trades  people  live,  306;  foundei-s 
and  machinists,  30(5:  Singhalese  agricultural  labor,  307;  Coolie 
labor  in  Ceylon,  307.  Wages:  General  trades,  309  ;  factories,  mills, 
&c.,  310;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  310;  mines 
and  mining,  310;  railway  employes,  310;  seamen's  wages,  311; 
store  and  shop  wages,  311  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities, 
312;  agricultural  wages,  312;  corporation  employes,  312;  Gov- 
ernment departments  and  othces,  312;  i)rinter8  and  printing  otlices, 
313.) 

THE    PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS. 

Th  i  Philippine  Islands :  Report  by  Consul  Voigt,  of  Manila 313-313 

(Wages:  General  trades,  314;  factories,  mills,  «fcc.,  314;  foundries, 
machine  shops,  and  iron  works,  315;  mines  and  mining,  315;  ship- 
yards and  ship-building.  31.3;  seamen's  wages,  315;  store  and  shop 
wages,  315  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  316  ;  agricultural 
wages,  316;  corporation  employes,  316:  Government  departments 
aud  othces,  316;  printers  and  printing  offices,  316.) 

JAPAN. 

Japan:  Report  by  Consul-Geueral  Van  Bnreu 317-342 

(Labor  in  Japan,  317  ;  latitude  aud  longitude  of  Japan,  318;  topography, 
318;  soil,  318;  water,  318;  climate,  318;  population,  319;  govern- 
ment, 320;  land  tenure,  321 ;  organizatiou  of  domestic  society,  321 ; 
religiou,  321  ;  education,  322;  morals,  323;  means  of  transporta- 
tion, 324;  tenements,  32.3;  fuel,  326;  farmers,  327 :  artisans,  330 ; 
professional  labor,  332 ;  coolie  or  common  labor,  332 ;  tishermen, 
433;  miners,  334;  sports  aud  past  times,  334;  labor  organizations, 
335;  finances,  336;  pauperism,  336;  the  blind,  337;  scenery,  337; 
ethnology,  338 ;  oriental  civilization,  338 :  food  prices,  339 ;  taxa- 
tion, 339.) 

CHINA. 

Anioy  :  Report  by  Consul  Goidsborough 342-345 

(Male  labor,  342;  female  labor, 343.  Wages:  General  trades,  343;  ship- 
yards and  ship-building,  344  ;  seamen's  wages,  344;  store  and  shop 
wages, 344  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  345;  corporation 
employes,  345.) 

Ha  nko w  :  Report  by  Consul  Shepard 345-347 

(General  trades,  345;  food  and  food  prices,  346;  rents,  346;  character- 
istics of  Hankow  laborers,  346  ;  labor  organizations,  346  ;  cloth- 
ing, 346;  i>oliti(al  rights.  346:  female  labor,  347.) 

.•■iOVTHEKrV    €I1II\A. 

Southern  China:  Report  by  Consul  Seymour 347,343 

(Class  I4..50  to  .$5.50  per  month,  347:  class  $4.50  to  $8  per  mouth,  347  ; 
other  clas.ses,  347.) 


428  INDEX. 


CONTINENT     OF    AFRICA. 

moRocco.    - 

*  Pagp. 

Morocco  :  Report  by  Consul  Mathewa 349-351 

(Female  labor,  349.  Wages :  General  trades,  350  ;  store  and  shop  wages, 
351  ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  351 ;  Government  depart- 
ments and  offices,  351.) 

CAPE  COLONY. 

*  {'ii])e  Colony:  Report  by  Consul  Siler,  of  Cape  Town 352-357 

(Wages  :  General  trades,  353;  railway  employes,  354  ;  seamen's  wages, 
355  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  356 ;  corporation  employes,  356  ;  Gov- 
ernment departments  and  offices,  1^56  ;  food  prices,  :^7.) 

SEIVEOAL. 

Senegal :  Report  by  Consul  Strickland,  of  Gor^e,  Dakar 357-361 

(Division,  357;  wages,  358;  cost  of  living,  358;  communism,  358;  in-  ' 

temperance,  359  ;  future  prospects,  360. ) 

SIERRA  LEOJVE. 

Sierra  Leone:  Report  by  Consul  Lewis 361-364 

(Cost  of  living,  361.  ^Wages  :  General  trades,  362 ;  ship-yards  and  ship- 
building, 362;  seamen's  wages,  362;  store  and  shop  wages,  363; 
household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  363 ;  agricultural  wages,  363 ; 
corporation  employes,  363 ;  Government  departments  and  offices, 
363;  trades  and  labor, — Government  employ,  363;  printers  and 
printing  offices,  364.) 

RIADEIRA. 

M  adeira :  Report  by  Vice-Consul  Hutchison 364-366 

(Female  labor,  365.  Wages:  General  trades,  365;  store  and  shop 
wages,  365 ;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  366 ;  agricultural 
wages,  366.) 

AU  STRALAS  I  A. 

VICTORIA. 

Victoria:  Report  by  Consul-Geueral  Spencer,  of  Melbourne 267-397 

(Male  labor,  367;  rates  of  wages,  367  ;  cost  of  living,  368;  wages  past 
and  present,  368 ;  habits  of  the  working  classes,  368 ;  feeling  be- 
tween employer  and  employ^,  368;  organized  condition  of  labor, 
369 ;  strikes  and  courts  of  arbitration,  369 ;  co-operative  societies, 
371;  general  condition  of  the  working  classes,  372;  statements  of 
working  people,  373;  bootmaker,  373;  engineer,  374;  miner,  374; 
jeweller,  375;  die-maker,  376  ;  smith,  376;  baker,  377  ;  flint-glass 
worker,  378  ;  tailor,  380 ;  female  mill  operative,  381 ;  female  coat- 
maker,  383  ;  safety  of  employes,  384 ;  the  sweating  system,  386; 
political  rights,  386;  emigration,  387;  occupation  of  the  people  in 
Victoria,  387 ;  female  wages,  388  ;  hours  of  labor,  388 ;  moral  and 
physical  condition  of  female  eraploy6s,  389  ;  care  of  sick  and  dis- 


INDEX.  429 

Page. 

Victoria  :  Reitort  by  Consul-Geiieral  Spencer,  of  Melbourne — Continued, 
abled,  390 ;  past  and  present  wages,  391 ;  education  among  female 
employes,  391  ;  acknowledgments,  392.  "Wages :  General  trades, 
392 ;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  393  ;  foundries,  macbine-shops,  and  iron 
works,  394  ;  mines  and  mining,  394  ;  railway  employes,  394 ;  ship- 
yards and  ship-building,  395 ;  seamen's  wages,  395 ;  store  and 
shop  wages,  395;  household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  395;  agri- 
cultural wages,  396;  Government  departments  and  offices,  396; 
printers  and  printing  offices,  397 ;  necessaries  of  life,  clothing,  rent, 
&c.,397.) 

KTEST   AUSTRALIA. 

West  Australia  :  Report  by  Consular  Agent  Dynes,  of  Albany 398 

(Wages:  General  employment,  398;  seamen's  wages,  398;  store  and 
shop  wages,  398.) 

^E\¥  ZEALAND. 

New  Zealand  :  Report^by^Consul  Griffin,  of  Auckland 399-411 

( Wages :  General  trades,  399 ;  factories,  mills,  &c.,  399 ;  foundries, 
machine-shops,  and  iron  works,  400 ;  glass-workers,  400 ;  mines 
and  mining,  400;  railway  employ6s,  401;  ship-yards  and  ship- 
building, 400  ;  seamen's  wages,  401  ;  store  and  shop  wages,  401 ; 
household  wages  in  towns  and  cities,  401 ;  agricultural  wages,  402 ; 
corporation  employes,  402;  Government  departments  and  offices, 
402 ;  trades  and  labor — Government  employ,  402 ;  printers  and  print- 
ing offices,  403  ;  cost  of  living,  403;  prices  of  provisions,  403;  hab- 
its of  the  working  classes,  403;  feeling  between  employ6  and  em- 
ployer, 404  ;  organization  of  labor,  404 ;  New  Zealand  tariff,  405  ; 
taxation,  406;  source  of  revenue,  406;  public  land,  407;  the  work- 
ingmen  and  assisted  immigration,  407;  cost  of  living,  408;  strikes, 
409 ;  wages  and  food  purchases,  409 ;  general  condition  of  the 
working  classes,  409;  new  industries,  410;  greenstone  wares,  411; 
acknowledgment,  411.) 

POLYNESIA. 
HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS. 

Hawaiian  Islands:  Report  by  Consul  McKinley,  of  Honolulu 412-414 

(Wages :  General  trades,  412 ;  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  iron  works, 
412;  railway  employes,  413;  ship-yards  and  ship-building,  413; 
seamen's  wages,  413;  agricultural  wages,  414  ;  Government  depart- 
ments and  offices,  414 ;  printers  and  printing  offices,  414.) 

SAinOA. 

Samoa  :  Report  by  Consul  Canisius 415,  416 

(Labor  in  Samoa,  415.) 

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